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Long‐term outcome from a medium secure service for people with intellectual disability
Author(s) -
Alexander R. T.,
Crouch K.,
Halstead S.,
Piachaud J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of intellectual disability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.941
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1365-2788
pISSN - 0964-2633
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2006.00806.x
Subject(s) - psychiatry , criminal justice , intellectual disability , declaration , mental health , cohort , service (business) , psychology , mental health act , sample (material) , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , economic justice , medicine , criminology , law , political science , business , chemistry , chromatography , marketing
Background The purpose of this paper is to describe long‐term outcomes for patients discharged over a 12‐year period from a medium secure service for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Methods A cohort study using case‐notes analysis and a structured interview of current key informants. Results Eleven per cent of the sample was reconvicted. Fifty‐eight per cent of the sample showed offending‐like behaviour that did not lead to police contact. Twenty‐eight per cent of the sample was currently detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act. The presence of a personality disorder, a history of theft or burglary, and young age increased the risk of reconviction. Contact with the police was less likely in those with schizophrenia. Re‐admission to hospital was associated with the presence of offending‐like behaviours, rather than any specific diagnosis. Conclusion In terms of reconviction, these results are good compared with those from general forensic services; however, behavioural problems continue for many years and are managed without recourse to the criminal justice system. There is a borderline group whose needs are poorly defined and serviced. Declaration of interests Horizon National Health Service Trust, the managing authority of the service, gave the grant for this study; the corresponding author was working in the service.