Detention of Elderly Psychiatric Inpatients under Section 5(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emab Salib ◽  
George Tadros ◽  
Angela Ambrose ◽  
Mark Allington

Emergency detention of elderly psychiatric inpatients appears to have attracted very little or no attention in published studies. In this retrospective review, all applications of sections 5(2) and 5(4) of the Mental Health Act 1983, detaining elderly inpatients in North Cheshire between 1985 and 1997 were reviewed. Forty-three percent of elderly inpatients under s.5(2) regained their voluntary status, while 57% were detained under another section by the end of the 72 hours (p<0.05). Duration in hospital prior to applying s.5(2), clinical diagnosis of functional mental illness and use of s.5(4) appear to increase the likelihood of converting s.5(2) into other sections. The high rate of non-conversion of s.5(2) in the elderly to s.2 or 3 may imply that in almost half of the cases, emergency detention may have been used to control isolated incidents of disturbed behaviour in otherwise co-operative patients. Educating doctors and nurses in guidance put forward by the Code of Practice (1993) remains, probably, the main key to a better use of emergency holding powers.

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Rajni Suri ◽  
Anshu Suri ◽  
Neelam Kumari ◽  
Amool R. Singh ◽  
Manisha Kiran

The role of women is very crucial in our society. She cares for her parents, partner, children and other relatives. She performs all types of duties in family and also in the society without any expectations. Because of playing many roles, women often face many challenges in their life including both physical and mental. Mental health problems affect women and men equally, but some problems are more common among women including both physical and mental health problems. Aim of the study - The present study is aimed to describe and compare the clinical and socio-demographic correlates of female mentally ill patients. Methods and Materials: The study includes 180 female mentally ill patients based on cross sectional design and the sample for the study was drawn purposively. A semi structured socio-demographic data sheet was prepared to collect relevant information as per the need of the study. Result: The present study reveals that the socio-demographic factors contribute a vital role in mental illness. Findings also showed that majority of patients had mental problems in the age range of 20-30 have high rate. Illiterate and primary level of education and daily wage working women as well as low and middle socio-economic status women are more prone to have mental illness. Other factors like marital status, type of family and religion etc also important factors for mental illness. Keywords: Socio demographic profile, female, psychiatric patient


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Beate Muschalla ◽  
Clio Vollborn ◽  
Anke Sondhof

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Embitterment can occur as a reaction to perceived injustice. During the pandemic and restrictions in daily living due to infection risk management, a range of many smaller or severe injustices have occurred. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study is to investigate what characterizes persons with high embitterment, mental illness, embitterment and mental illness, and those without embitterment or mental health problems. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted an online survey including persons from the general population in November 2020 and December 2020, the phase during which a second lockdown took place, with closed shops, restaurants, cultural and activity sites. 3,208 participants (mean age 47 years) gave self-ratings on their present well-being, burdens experienced during the pandemic, embitterment, wisdom, and resilience. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Embitterment occurred among 16% of the sample, which is a high rate in comparison with 4% during pre-pandemic times. Embitterment was weakly correlated with unspecific mental well-being. There were more persons with embitterment than those with embitterment and a mental health problem. Persons with embitterment reported less coronavirus-related anxiety than persons without embitterment. However, embittered persons reported more social and economic burdens and more frequent experiences of losses (job loss and canceling of medical treatments). Embittered persons perceive their own wisdom competencies on a similar level as persons with mental health problems or persons without mental health problems. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Embitterment is a specific potentially alone-standing affective state, which is distinguishable from general mental health and coping capacities (here: wisdom). The economic and social consequences of pandemic management should be carefully recognized and prevented by policy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Mennim

This is a commentary on R v Westwood (Thomas), where the Court of Appeal of England and Wales held that the judge had erred in assessing Westwood’s ‘retained responsibility’ as medium to high under the Sentencing Council Guideline for manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Although the sentencing judge concluded that the offending was caused by Westwood’s anger, the Court of Appeal found the psychiatric evidence clearly indicated that the most significant factor was Westwood’s mental illness and that his anger at the time of the offence was a manifestation of his mental illness. Westwood’s responsibility was low, and it was appropriate to impose both a hospital and restriction order.  


1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emad Salib ◽  
Boni Iparragirre

All applications of s.5(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983, allowing the emergency detention of voluntary in-patients in North Cheshire between 1985 and 1995, were reviewed to examine general trends in its use and to assess variables likely to influence its outcome. Of the 877 applications implemented (4% of all admissions), 500 (57%) were converted to longer-term detention under the Act, 396 (45%) were converted to s.2 and 104 (12%) to s.3. The other 377 (43%) detained patients under s.5(2) regained informal status. The review found that time of application of section, length of hospital stay prior to application, medical officer's grade, use of s.5(4) and clinical diagnosis are best predictors of s.5(2) outcome. The results are similar to other published studies and seem to reflect a national pattern, possibly implying that patients detained under this short-term detention order have an almost equal chance of either regaining their voluntary status or being detained under another section by the end of the 72 hours. This may raise questions about the purpose of s.5(2) as expressed by the Mental Health Act Commission.


1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 220-222
Author(s):  
Lord Colville

Professor Bluglass has recently written in the Bulletin on this subject. Articles have also appeared in the British Medical Journal by Dr Hamilton and Professor Kendell. Comments were invited on both documents: to the DHSS on the Code and to MHAC on their paper. To judge by the articles referred to, clarification of the background to and function of both documents is urgently needed.


1987 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-67

It was felt that Members of the College would be interested to see the comments of the British Medical Association and the Joint Co-ordinating Committee (The Medical Protection Society, The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland and the Medical Defence Union) on the Mental Health Act 1983 Draft Code of Practice. The comments of the College were published in the Bulletin, August 1986, 10, 194–195.


1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 733-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Buller ◽  
David Storer ◽  
Rachel Bennett

Detention of general hospital in-patients under Section 5(2) is a rare occurrence. This study of the use of Section 5(2) in general hospitals uncovered a frequent neglect in following the guidelines of The Mental Health Act and The Code of Practice. Surprisingly the conversion rate of Section 5(2) to Section 2 or 3 was similar to that seen in a number of other studies conducted in the quite different setting of large psychiatric hospitals. A number of patient characteristics were identified that appeared to influence whether 5(2)s were converted to an admission Section. Each general hospital needs to develop guidelines to be followed when staff feel that a patient should be detained under Section 5(2) – an example of such a policy is included.


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