Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission

Until 1982, a number of patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Norway were hospitalized in the country's two forensic mental health hospitals. The aim of this article was to explore the background of these patients based on the characteristics of their life experiences before admission...

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Main Authors: Erik Søndenaa, Camilla Gudde, Øyvind Thomassen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stockholm University Press 2014-01-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.sjdr.se/articles/390
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author Erik Søndenaa
Camilla Gudde
Øyvind Thomassen
author_facet Erik Søndenaa
Camilla Gudde
Øyvind Thomassen
author_sort Erik Søndenaa
collection DOAJ
description Until 1982, a number of patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Norway were hospitalized in the country's two forensic mental health hospitals. The aim of this article was to explore the background of these patients based on the characteristics of their life experiences before admission to the hospital. Data from the period 1895–1982 were retrieved for 272 patients with ID. All patients' records were read and key information from childhood and important life experiences were categorized in terms of both numeric and descriptive variables. Most patients had experienced social and health problems in their family during childhood. A minority had completed primary education. A majority of the patients had some work experience. Offences leading to admission included several types from simple to serious crimes. Three periods were compared in order to study the changes in relation to the changing social and welfare conditions during the century. One main observation was that in spite of better education the trend during the century was that fewer of these patients experienced any labour participation. Historically, the diversity in level of functioning and previous treatment makes patients with ID in the forensic mental health hospitals a more varied group than previously described.
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spelling doaj.art-9bb604a087894e828d1c6ccdc4ad730c2023-09-03T10:16:18ZengStockholm University PressScandinavian Journal of Disability Research1501-74191745-30112014-01-01171142510.1080/15017419.2013.868824319Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admissionErik Søndenaa0Camilla Gudde1Øyvind Thomassen2Forensic dep. Brøset, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Social Education, University College Sør-Trøndelag, Trondheim, NorwayForensic dep. Brøset, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Social Work and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayForensic dep. Brøset, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Historical Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayUntil 1982, a number of patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Norway were hospitalized in the country's two forensic mental health hospitals. The aim of this article was to explore the background of these patients based on the characteristics of their life experiences before admission to the hospital. Data from the period 1895–1982 were retrieved for 272 patients with ID. All patients' records were read and key information from childhood and important life experiences were categorized in terms of both numeric and descriptive variables. Most patients had experienced social and health problems in their family during childhood. A minority had completed primary education. A majority of the patients had some work experience. Offences leading to admission included several types from simple to serious crimes. Three periods were compared in order to study the changes in relation to the changing social and welfare conditions during the century. One main observation was that in spite of better education the trend during the century was that fewer of these patients experienced any labour participation. Historically, the diversity in level of functioning and previous treatment makes patients with ID in the forensic mental health hospitals a more varied group than previously described.https://www.sjdr.se/articles/390intellectual disabilities, history, mental health, forensic, institutions
spellingShingle Erik Søndenaa
Camilla Gudde
Øyvind Thomassen
Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission
Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research
intellectual disabilities, history, mental health, forensic, institutions
title Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission
title_full Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission
title_fullStr Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission
title_full_unstemmed Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission
title_short Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission
title_sort patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915 1982 before admission
topic intellectual disabilities, history, mental health, forensic, institutions
url https://www.sjdr.se/articles/390
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