Department of Forensic Psychiatry

The Department of Forensic Psychiatry was established in 1984. In accordance with the applicable regulations 70 patients, declared to be mentally incapable or of a diminished mental capacity, were admitted to this department. In 1990’s, over 70 patients from the war-affected areas were admitted. Forensic patients as well as individuals with acute or more severe clinical picture and the need for intensive treatment were also treated at the department.

With the entry into force of the first Law on the Protection of Persons with Mental Disorders on 1 January 1998, the Department underwent a reconstruction. Ever since, admitting individuals with mental disorders declared mentally incapable during the criminal or misdemeanor proceedings and assigned forensic treatment by the decision of the competent county court, i.e. according to the then applicable provisions of the line ministry. The Department consists of several functional units, made up of the Hospital Department, the Forensic Psychiatry Clinic, and the Expertise Center.

Prof Vesna Šendula Jengić, MD, Spec. Psych., PhD, has been serving as the Head of the Department since 1992. Medical specialist Vedran Orešković, MD is also employed at the Department. In the part of working hours, depending on the needs of the therapeutic process, residents, a social worker, a social pedagogue, a psychologist, a pedagogue, an occupational therapist, a nutritionist, physiotherapists, and other professional associates also serve as a part of the Department staff. The team of fourteen nurses and technicians is led by Tomislav Matošić, MN, the Department's Chief Nurse, now in his second term. The department fosters a pleasant and supportive therapeutic climate and a structured organizational culture. The structure of the Department, along with continuous additional education of the team members and the combined experience of working in the forensic department of fifteen years, provide the optimal therapeutic environment.

The department runs according to a predetermined program which seeks to adapt to the needs of patients as well as treatment plans, personalizing the patient treatment. Because we recognize the fact that society has the right to zero tolerance for violence, we pay special attention to the safety aspects; we have implemented them in all our therapeutic activities. We conduct continuous evaluation of our work to make sure we meet the high standards of patient treatment. To strengthen the residual personality capacity, reduce stigmatization, as well as to reestablish social contacts, we conduct continuous multidisciplinary and interprofessional cooperation with the health, social, judicial, and other public sectors.

Alongside inpatient hospital treatment, the work of the Forensic Psychiatry Clinic takes place with outpatients that attend the Day Hospital. Those outpatients have also been assigned a forensic treatment. With the entry into force of the reformed criminal legislation, the work of the Department of Forensic Psychiatry was partially redefined by new legal provisions. However, medical aspects and structure retained their traditional form. Targeted therapeutic activities, such as rehabilitation and resocialization, also include the families of the patients and trauma victims.

There is a noticeable upward trend in the admission of patients with dual diagnosis. The most common diagnoses are endogenous mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, as well as other psychotic disorders, personality disorders with psychotic decompensations, addiction, etc. Fewer patients are admitted for observation in the examination procedure itself, within the criminal or misdemeanor proceedings, as well as those who must be hospitalized for some time due to significant psychological deterioration that occurs during the investigation.