The British Journal of Psychiatry (2007) 191: 99-105. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.030346
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Data supplement 1
Right arrow Data supplement 2
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by SINGH, S. P.
Right arrow Articles by CHURCHILL, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by SINGH, S. P.
Right arrow Articles by CHURCHILL, R.

REVIEW ARTICLE

Ethnicity and the Mental Health Act 1983

SWARAN P. SINGH

Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry

NAN GREENWOOD and SARAH WHITE

Department of Mental Health, St George’s University of London

RACHEL CHURCHILL

Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Correspondence: Swaran P. Singh, Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. Email: S.P.Singh{at}warwick.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None.

*Studies that were part of the meta-analysis

Background Black and minority ethnic (BME) patients are disproportionately detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. There has been no systematic exploration of differences within and between ethnic groups, nor of the explanations put forward for this excess.

Aims To systematically review detention and ethnicity, with meta-analyses of detention rates for BME groups, and to explore the explanations offered for ethnic differences in detention rates.

Method Literature search and meta-analysis. Explanations offered were categorised, supporting literature was accessed and the strength of the evidence evaluated.

Results In all, 49 studies met inclusion criteria; of these, 19 were included in the meta-analyses. Compared with White patients, Black patients were 3.83 times, BME patients 3.35 times and Asian patients 2.06 times more likely to be detained. The most common explanations related to misdiagnosis and discrimination against BME patients, higher incidence of psychosis and differences in illness expression. Many explanations, including that of racism within mental health services, were not supported by clear evidence.

Conclusions Although BME status predicts psychiatric detention in the UK, most explanations offered for the excess detention of BME patients are largely unsupported.


Related articles in BJP:

PETER TYRER
BJP 2007 191: 188. [Full Text]  

Highlights of this issue
KIMBERLIE DEAN
BJP 2007 191: A5. [Full Text]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
S. P. Singh
Shooting the messenger: the science and politics of ethnicity research
The British Journal of Psychiatry, July 1, 2009; 195(1): 1 - 2.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. PsychiatryHome page
S. Priebe, C. Katsakou, T. Amos, M. Leese, R. Morriss, D. Rose, T. Wykes, and K. Yeeles
Patients' views and readmissions 1 year after involuntary hospitalisation
The British Journal of Psychiatry, January 1, 2009; 194(1): 49 - 54.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br J Soc WorkHome page
E. Furminger and M. Webber
The Effect of Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment on Assessments under the 1983 Mental Health Act: An Increased Workload for Approved Social Workers?
Br. J. Soc. Work, March 25, 2008; (2008) bcm171v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]