Assessments and admissions during the first 6 years of a UK medium secure DSPD service

Freestone, Mark; Taylor, Celia; Milsom, Sophia; Mikton, Chris; Ullrich, Simone; Phillips, Ophelia; Coid, Jeremy

Abstract

Background: Offenders with personality disorder represent a considerable burden on mental health and criminal justice services. Millfields Unit was one of the pilot medium secure units (MSUs) established by the UK Department of Health and Ministry of Justice to provide dedicated services for such individuals. Aims: Our study aimed to describe a complete cohort of referrals made to the service and to explore decisions on admissions to the Unit. Methods: File review was used to collect a structured data set of information on the first 158 referrals. These were then analysed descriptively and inferentially. Results: Previous psychological treatment in prison and evidence of motivation for further treatment were the strongest predictors of admission to the service. People admitted showed evidence of more extensive criminal histories, prior treatment failure and higher level of risk than those accepted into conventional medium secure units. Despite the stated purpose of the units being for people with personality disorder, a high number of patients with a primary diagnosis of psychotic illness were referred. Conclusion: The new service accepted a high-risk group of people with personality disorder whose needs would not otherwise have been met. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Citation

Freestone, M., Taylor, C., Milsom, S., Mikton, C., Ullrich, S., Phillips, O., & Coid, J. (2012). Assessments and admissions during the first 6 years of a UK medium secure DSPD service. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 22(2), 91-107. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.1823

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 18, 2012
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2012
• Journal: Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health
• Print ISSN: 0957-9664
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-2857
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 91-107
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.1823
• Keywords: antisocial personality disorder/diagnosis, antisocial personality disorder/epidemiology, antisocial personality disorder/psychology, antisocial personality disorder/therapy, cohort studies, commitment of mentally ill/legislation & jurisprudence, comorbidi
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/952942
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbm.1823