Background: Everyone in forensic care has some type of psychiatric disability and has carried out one or more criminal acts. The care is regulated in a number of laws. One part of the patient’s rehabilitation is the transition from closed to open care by so-called leave. A number of the patients that are on leave are sometimes readmitted to closed care for different reasons. These patients are sometimes referred to as “revolving door patients”.
Aim: The aim was to determine different concerned personnel groups’ opinions and experiences of what is important, if a patient that is cared for according to the law of forensic care, is to be successful or unsuccessful with his/her leave.
Method: A qualitative approach was chosen and two focus group interviews, with six participants in each group, were performed. The text was analyzed with the help of a qualitative content analysis.
Results: Three main themes came to light that have significance as to how successful a leave is: comorbidity, how fundamental needs are taken care of and collaboration concerning the patient. 14 subthemes were found under the three main themes: correct psychiatric diagnosis, concurrent misuses, compliance in medication, social networks, employment, safe accommodation, the patient’s economy, seeing the patients needs, clear planning, knowledge and motivation, indistinct line of responsibility, collaboration prior to leave, contacts and follow-up in open care.
Conclusion: Many functions are adequate in the care of patients within forensic care. Though there are deficiencies that need to be improved and developed. It is important that the patients participate in the care and that different authorities create individual conditions and flexible solutions if a leave is to be successful. Arranged economy is important if a leave is to be successful, as much of the patient’s everyday existence is affected. When the patient is unsuccessful with a leave, the reason could be that the patient’s real needs are not known, or not enough consideration has been taken to the patients needs when planning the leave. Inadequate public recourses sometimes contribute to patients, in forensic care, not receiving correct or sufficient measures (help), which is a problem.