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Characteristics of the Detained and Informal Child and Adolescent Psychiatric In-Patient Populations |
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| Authors: | Alex Mears Richard White Anne O'Herlihy Adrian Worrall Sube Banerjee Tony Jaffa Peter Hill & Paul Lelliott |
| Institution: | Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research Unit, 83 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0HW, UK;Solicitor, White and Sherwin Solicitors, Simpson House, 2/6 Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon CR0 6BA, UK;Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK;Phoenix Centre, Ida Darwin, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB1 5EE, UK;Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, London WC1N 3JH, UK |
| Abstract: | Background: This project surveyed the use of the Children Act and the Mental Health Act in in-patient child and adolescent mental health services in England and Wales. Methods: Data were collected as a day census from child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient units, questionnaire forms completed by consultant psychiatrists or key-workers. Returns were received from 71 of the 80 units. Results: One hundred and twenty-seven of the 663 patients had been admitted formally, the great majority under a section of the Mental Health Act. Compared with those admitted informally, those admitted formally were older, contained a higher proportion of males and had 'adult-type diagnoses', mainly schizophrenia, mood disorders and personality disorder. The clinical and psychosocial characteristics of formal and informal patients were consistent with these differences. Conclusions: This study provides a timely and useful snapshot of the use of the Acts in this population. |
| Keywords: | Child and adolescent psychiatry mental health legislation Children Act Mental Health Act |