A growing number of people in the criminal justice system require mental health care. At the same time, in the UK at least, gaining access to forensic mental health services is becoming increasingly difficult. Dramatherapy, which may be a useful treatment in forensic settings, such as prisons and secure hospitals, has not before been systematically reviewed in this context. Seven databases and 10 journals were searched for all available literature. From 6724 sources, 12 papers were suitable for inclusion. Data relating to participant and intervention characteristics, methods used to measure effect, and qualitative and quantitative effects were extracted. Quantitative data were used to calculate effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. Varied participant and intervention characteristics suggest flexibility in provision, however, forensic dramatherapy was most often delivered in the UK (33%) to groups (66%) of male (75%) adults with personality disorder (42%). Effects were measured both qualitatively and quantitatively; the use of quantitative outcome measures (42%) and the collection of participant feedback (42%) were most popular. Effect sizes ranged from d = 0.01 to d = 1.25. Large effects were seen with regards to reduced anger and increased emotional activation, however, studies were often uncontrolled. Qualitative results suggest that participants experienced new ways of being, were able to express themselves and felt supported by the group or therapist. The quantitative and qualitative results of forensic dramatherapy suggest promise, however, the evidence base is currently small. Further, methodologically strong research is encouraged.

越来越多的刑事司法系统人员需要心理健康护理。与此同时，至少在英国，获得法医心理健康服务变得越来越困难。戏剧疗法在监狱和安全医院等法医环境中可能是一种有用的治疗方法，但此前尚未在这方面进行过系统的审查。检索了 7 个数据库和 10 种期刊以查找所有可用文献。从 6724 个来源中，有 12 篇论文适合纳入。提取了与参与者和干预特征、用于衡量效果的方法以及定性和定量效果相关的数据。定量数据用于计算效应大小（Cohen's d），定性数据进行内容分析。不同的参与者和干预特征表明提供的灵活性，然而，在英国，法医戏剧治疗最常针对患有人格障碍的男性（75%）成人群体（66%）（33%）（42%）。对效果进行定性和定量测量；使用定量结果测量（42%）和收集参与者反馈（42%）最受欢迎。效应大小范围为d = 0.01 至d = 1.25。在减少愤怒和增加情绪激活方面观察到了巨大的效果，但研究往往不受控制。定性结果表明，参与者体验了新的生活方式，能够表达自己，并感受到团体或治疗师的支持。法医戏剧治疗的定量和定性结果表明有希望，但目前证据基础很小。此外，鼓励方法论上强有力的研究。