ArticleBJPsych bulletin2026
The value of person-first language in forensic mental health services.
Article in BJPsych bulletin, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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Abstract
Labels in healthcare influence perceptions, treatment and stigma. Although they can aid diagnosis and guide care, pejorative labels can dehumanise and perpetuate prejudice. Person-first language, which foregrounds the individual rather than a condition or behaviour, has been linked to reduced blame, stigma and social distance across mental health and forensic populations. Evidence suggests it may foster empathy, recovery-oriented attitudes and rehabilitation, while challenging essentialist and pessimistic views of mental illness and offending. Limitations include minimising structural coercion and lived experience. This editorial explores the evidence, mechanisms and practical applications of person-first language in forensic mental health, advocating cautious implementation and further research.
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