Aim of the study:
The aim of the study was to compare patients treated in court psychiatric wards with both low and medium security in terms of the needs, the severity of psychopathological symptoms, subjective assessment of quality of life and satisfaction with treatment.

Subject or material and methods:
The research was conducted at the Regional Mental Hospital in Lubiąż. The study involve patients interned at two Low Security Forensic Psychiatric Wards (n=50) and one Medium Security Forensic Ward (n=43). The study included 93 male patients. The study used the following research tools: Camberwell Needs Assessment Scale for Forensic Patients (CANFOR), sociodemographic and clinical data questionnaire, BPRS, CAT, MANSA.

Results:
Patients at the medium security ward reported greater overall needs (mean 3,86 vs. 2,96, p= 0,037) and a greater number of unmet needs (mean 1,51 vs. 0,80, p=0,009) . Overall severity of psychopathology (mean 2,41 vs. 1,93 p<0,001), including deficits and positive symptoms, was higher among patients of the low security ward.

Discussion:
Results proves that medical care in the wards with low and medium security is at a similar level. Qualification of people sent to medium security wards does not depend on their mental health but on the nature of the act they had committed, which in this case is more serious than for those directed to low security wards.

Conclusions:
The services provided in the forensic psychiatric wards, and especially in the group of patients in medium security wards, do not sufficiently met the needs of patients.