Barbara Gualco

Accidental death in autoerotic maneuvers

The authors from the Florence Forensic Department present a case that demonstrates the paradigms attached to accidental deaths while performing autoerotic maneuvers. The incidents of such practices are underestimated and are only the tip of the iceberg since they do not represent the cases that are never reported due to successful practice. After analyzing the statistic data, the authors describe the case and discuss about the element that prove the accidental nature of the death and the importance of the correct application of forensic methodology at the scene and in the mortuary.

The closing of forensic psychiatric hospitals in Italy: determinants, current status and future perspectives: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION Italy is the only country in the world to have closed forensic psychiatric hospitals and converted to fully-residential services. The international interest around this reform has not been matched by research. This scoping review aims to report the determinants of the reform, the most updated information on how the system operates, its benefits and its challenges. We further aim to discuss the implications for policy, research and practice. METHODS 1. Selection of relevant sources through electronic search on four databases, Google, relevant printed materials and personal communication with practitioners currently working in REMS. 2. Study quality monitoring. 3. Data extraction onto NVivo 4. Data synthesis through content analysis. RESULTS 43 papers were selected for inclusion in our review. Two main themes were identified: 1. Historical chronology of the closure of forensic psychiatric hospitals; 2. The current model of residential forensic psychiatric care. CONCLUSIONS The closing down of Italian forensic psychiatric hospitals represented a fundamental step for human rights. Further work is required to improve the current service, including potential reforming of the penal code, improved referral/admission processes and consistent monitoring to reduce service inequality across regions. Further research is crucial to test the effectiveness of the Italian model of care against traditional ones.

Riflessioni in merito alla rivelazione del coming-out tardivo di uno dei genitori

This paper comes by a consideration about a psychological Court Appointed Expert, requested on 2009 by the Florence Court, in determining the best interests of the child following the late coming out of one of parents. The Authors propose a reflection on the changes of recent years in the directives based on scientific research and reverberating on the possibility of procreation, custody and adoption of children by homosexual subjects. The Authors contrast the literature on the possible influence of the homosexual parenting on offspring, the theories about the possible retention of pathogenicity of any familiar secret and finally, they discuss and integrate the scientific guidelines orienting the menagement of Court Appointed Expert.