Sexual activity among psychiatric inpatients: International perspectives

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Abstract
The idea for this series of articles arose from discussions in the UK about how sexual activity among patients in hospital was dealt with by staff. It emerged that staff were often discomforted when dealing with what was regarded as a problem behaviour. A number of questions arose: what were the attitudes of staff to heterosexual and homosexual relationships and masturbation among inpatients; were heterosexual and homosexual relationships treateddifferendy; was contraceptive and health advice given; was there any official hospital policy on these issues; were patients detained under mental health legislation treated differently? An international perspective was sought by asking specialists from overseas to answer these questions and their replies make up this series of articles The piece from the USA is from a legal perspective and reflects that country's concern for individual rights and the legal process. The articles from Israel and Egypt are similar in that morally strict religious attitudes influence practice in both countries, although in Israel the westernized background of many of the staff provides a conflicting view. The fourth contribution, from Jamaica, presents a picture of widespread sexual activity among patients which is catered for but at the same time discouraged by staff. The fifth piece, from Finland, employs a questionnaire approach. It reveals some incongruity between generally liberal attitudes and the criminal law. The final article gives a view from the UK on these issues These articles highlight the complexity of cultural, religious and legal influences on the attitudes and approaches of staff to sexual activity among psychiatric inpatients