Forensic psychiatric patients often suffer from a multitude of severe psychiatric and social problems. Meanwhile multimodal evidence-based interventions are scarce and treatment effectiveness is in need of improvement. The main goal of forensic psychiatric treatment is to address psychiatric and social factors and thereby mitigate criminal behaviour. Notably, a supportive social network is an important protective factor for criminal behaviour. As such, improving a poor social network may decrease the risk of criminal recidivism. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the addition of an informal social network intervention (FNC) to treatment as usual (TAU) among forensic psychiatric outpatients. In a mono-center randomized controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups, forensic psychiatric outpatients with social network-related problems (N = 105) will be allocated to either TAU + FNC or TAU alone. The informal social network intervention consists of a 12-month coaching intervention, performed by the forensic network coach (a volunteer trained by an informal care institute). Assessments will be conducted at baseline and 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and 18 months after baseline. The primary outcome variable is mental wellbeing. Psychiatric functioning, criminal recidivism, substance abuse, quality of life, social network, social support, loneliness and self-sufficiency are included as secondary outcomes. A variety of potential mediators and moderators of effectiveness will be explored. Additionally, a qualitative evaluation of effectiveness will be performed. This study will contribute to the existing literature of forensic treatment effectiveness as it is the first RCT examining the effectiveness of adding a social network intervention in a forensic outpatient population. If effectiveness is shown, forensic mental health care could be optimized by collaborating with informal care or community initiatives aimed at improving a positive social network. In addition, results will provide insight regarding mediators and moderators of treatment effectiveness. This study is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register ( NTR7163 ). Date of registration: 16 april 2018.

中文翻译：

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通过像往常一样在治疗中增加非正式的社交网络干预，改善法医精神科门诊病人的心理健康：一项随机对照试验。

法医精神病患者经常遭受许多严重的精神病和社会问题。同时，缺乏基于证据的多式联运干预措施，需要提高治疗效果。法医精神病学的主要目标是解决精神病学和社会因素，从而减轻犯罪行为。值得注意的是，支持性社交网络是犯罪行为的重要保护因素。因此，改善不良的社交网络可以降低再次犯罪的风险。这项研究旨在检验在法医精神科门诊患者中，在常规治疗（TAU）中添加非正式社交网络干预（FNC）的有效性。在具有两个平行组的单中心随机对照临床试验中，社交网络相关问题（N = 105）的法医精神科门诊患者将被分配到TAU + FNC或仅TAU。非正式社交网络干预包括为期12个月的辅导干预，由法医网络教练（由非正式护理机构培训的志愿者）进行。评估将在基线以及基线后的3个月，6个月，9个月，12个月和18个月进行。主要的结果变量是心理健康。次要结果包括精神功能，犯罪再犯，滥用药物，生活质量，社交网络，社会支持，孤独和自给自足。将会探索各种潜在的调解者和有效性调节者。另外，将进行有效性的定性评估。这项研究将为法医治疗有效性的现有文献做出贡献，因为它是第一个研究在法医门诊人群中添加社交网络干预措施有效性的RCT。如果显示出有效性，则可以通过与非正式护理或旨在改善积极社交网络的社区倡议合作来优化法医精神保健。此外，结果将提供有关治疗效果的中介者和调节者的见识。该研究已在荷兰试验注册处（NTR7163）注册。注册日期：2018年4月16日。通过与非正式护理或旨在改善积极社交网络的社区倡议合作，可以优化法医精神保健。此外，结果将提供有关治疗效果的中介者和调节者的见识。该研究已在荷兰试验注册处（NTR7163）注册。注册日期：2018年4月16日。通过与非正式护理或旨在改善积极社交网络的社区倡议合作，可以优化法医精神保健。此外，结果将提供有关治疗效果的中介者和调节者的见识。该研究已在荷兰试验注册处（NTR7163）注册。注册日期：2018年4月16日。