Abstract
Regional secure units are a relatively new facility for the treatment of mentally disordered offenders and difficult to manage patients. Their role is still evolving. Previous studies have described details of referrals and admissions to such secure units (Higgins, 1981; Gudjonsson & Mackeith, 1983; Offen & Taylor, 1985; Faulk & Taylor, 1986; Bullard & Bond, 1988). To date, however, no studies have examined changes of practice in RSUs over time. The purpose of the present study is to examine changes in the admission characteristics of patients admitted to the Butler Clinic, regional secure unit for Devon and Cornwall since it opened in 1983 to the present time.
Highlights
Regional secure units are a relatively new facility for the treatment of mentally disordered offenders and difficult to manage patients
Differences between the early and recent admissions on each item recorded were assessed for statistical significance using the x: test and the t-test
A comprehensive description of all admissions to the unit has previously been documented (Smith et al, 1991). Diagnoses These were assigned according to ICD-9 criteria
Summary
JEANETTSEMITH,Senior Registrar in Forensic Psychiatry, The Butler Clinic, Langdon Hospital, Exeter Road, Dawlish, Devon EX1 ONR; JULIANPARKERf,ormerly Registrar, The Butler Clinic; and MARTINDONOVANC,onsultant Forensic Psychiatrist and Medical Director, The Butler Clinic. Regional secure units are a relatively new facility for the treatment of mentally disordered offenders and difficult to manage patients. Previous studies have described details of re ferrals and admissions to such secure units (Higgins, 1981; Gudjonsson & Mackeith, 1983; Offen & Taylor, 1985;Faulk & Taylor, 1986;Bullard & Bond, 1988). No studies have examined changes of practice in RSUs over time. The purpose of the present study is to examine changes in the admission characteristics of patients admitted to the Butler Clinic, regional secure unit for Devon and Cornwall since it opened in 1983 to the present time
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