Inner London collaborative audit of admissions in two health districts. II: Ethnicity and the use of the Mental Health Act

Twenty-six per cent of patients in two Inner London districts were admitted to acute wards under the provisions of the Mental Health Act. Compared with those not under compulsion, they were young, male, more likely to be of black Caribbean origin, and to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia of short du...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 1994-12, Vol.165 (6), p.743-749
Main Authors: Bebbington, PE, Feeney, ST, Flannigan, CB, Glover, GR, Lewis, SW, Wing, JK
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Behavior disorders
Behavior problems
Black people
Compulsions
Compulsory
Diagnosis
Ethnic Groups - psychology
Ethnicity
Female
Humans
Intensive care
Loglinear analysis
London - ethnology
Male
Mathematical models
Medical Audit
Medical diagnosis
Mental disorders
Mental Disorders - rehabilitation
Mental health
Mental Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Minority & ethnic groups
Patient Admission
Sampling
Schizophrenia
Sex Factors
Statistical analysis
United Kingdom - ethnology
West Indies
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Summary:Twenty-six per cent of patients in two Inner London districts were admitted to acute wards under the provisions of the Mental Health Act. Compared with those not under compulsion, they were young, male, more likely to be of black Caribbean origin, and to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia of short duration. The hypothesis is tested that ethnicity determines rates of compulsory admission independently of the other factors. Sampling and data collection methods were described in the first paper. Statistical analyses included a log-linear analysis of six key variables: compulsory admission, challenging behaviour, diagnosis, ethnicity, age, and sex. There were no substantial differences between districts. Analysis provided two similar statistical models. In both, admission under the Act was strongly associated with challenging behaviour and diagnosis of schizophrenia. In the model of best fit there was no significant interaction term for ethnicity and compulsion. In the second model there was a weak association. Ethnicity did not appear to be of outstanding importance in decisions to use the Mental Health Act. There was a strong link between ethnicity and diagnosis, independent of compulsion. Differences between the districts made no major contribution to the rates of compulsory admission.
ISSN:0007-1250
1472-1465
DOI:10.1192/bjp.165.6.743