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Mental health review tribunals

A follow-up of reviewed patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

D. H. Myers
D. H. Myers*
Affiliation:
Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury SY3 8DN
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Abstract

Background

Mental health legislation allows for treatment needs to override civil liberty. Mental health review tribunals act as a counterbalance. This study examines the long-term outcome of patients reviewed by a tribunal, and in particular whether the tribunal, in its concern for civil liberty, might be discharging patients prematurely.

Method

All non-offender patients from a defined catchment area reviewed by the tribunal between the inception of the 1983 Mental Health Act and 31 December 1991 were followed-up until 31 May 1993.

Results

Those discharged by the tribunal did not differ significantly from those refused discharge in subsequent survival period in the community, in readmission rate or in final outcome.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of a non-experimental study, the main hypothesis was not supported. An intensive study of family and personal life in the three months after discharge would cast useful additional light on the soundness of tribunal decisions.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 3 , March 1997 , pp. 253 - 256
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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