Citation

Myers DH. Br. J. Psychiatry 1997; 170: 253-256.

Affiliation

Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9229032

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.

Language: en