Referrals to a forensic service in the psychiatry of learning disability

Abstract

This survey describes the socio‐demographic, clinical and forensic variables of all patients referred to a medium secure unit in the psychiatry of learning disability. Of the sample, 67.5% were referred following an index offence and 76.6% had at least one previous conviction. Just over half (50.6%) came from either prisons, special hospitals or medium secure units and the remainder from mental health/learning disability hospitals or community resources. The majority (91.7%) had prior contact with a mental health or learning disability team. Most (81.5%) had a mild or ‘borderline’ learning disability, 46.8% had either a psychosis or major mood disorder, 58.4% had personality disorders and 56.6% had a history of illicit substance abuse. Of the 79 referrals 29.1% were accepted for admission. Arson as an index offence and a previous conviction for arson were significantly associated with being accepted for admission.

Citation

Alexander, R., Piachaud, J., Odebiyi, L. and Gangadharan, S. (2002), "Referrals to a forensic service in the psychiatry of learning disability", The British Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 29-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636646200200013