@article{ref1,
title="Conditionally discharged restricted patients and the need for long-term medium security",
journal="Medicine, science, and the law",
year="2002",
author="Riordan, Sharon and Smith, Helen and Humphreys, Martin",
volume="42",
number="4",
pages="339-343",
abstract="In the context of a larger investigation of follow-up of a specific group of mentally disordered individuals, the study described here examined the characteristics of all 55 people conditionally discharged for the first time from a medium secure unit in the West Midlands over a 13-year period. A retrospective case note analysis was undertaken. The findings illustrate that these patients are a distinct group. They were mainly single men who had committed a grave offence. The majority had an extensive criminological history with early onset of offending and chronic mental illness. Fifty percent of those with a criminal record had received at least one custodial sentence prior to the index offence. Co-morbid substance misuse was common, as was a history of self-harm. There were high levels of previous contact with psychiatric services and compulsory in-patient treatment. Most were detained under the Mental Health Act category of mental illness. A quarter had been transferred from a special hospital prior to conditional discharge into the community. The characteristics of this sample demonstrate clearly the need for the provision of long-term medium secure facilities and allied services.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0025-8024",
doi="10.1177/002580240204200410",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002580240204200410"
}