ABSTRACT
Two forensic psychiatric clinics visited on an exchange trip to Russia are described. The legal system for mentally disordered offenders in these institutions is also summarized, as is the training of psychiatrists in Russia.
Subject(s)
Forensic Psychiatry/trends , Education, Medical, Graduate , Forensic Psychiatry/education , Psychiatry/trends , RussiaABSTRACT
Seventy-nine adults and nineteen children were arrested at Gatwick Airport under s.136 over the period of one year although not all were formally held under this section at the police station (i.e. not all were accepted by the custody police officer). Their notes at the police station were reviewed. None of the children and only half of the adults were eventually seen by a doctor. The police were able to deal with the others. Half of these latter were missing persons. Those referred to a doctor tended to be suicidal or confused compared with those who were dealt with solely by the police. In addition, the police station as a place of safety probably influenced management in that people were dealt with quickly. The phenomenon of 'wanderers' is commented upon. This study suggests that when reviewing people held by the police as a result of their behaviour, a more comprehensive study can be performed by considering those arrested under s.136, but needing a more informal approach, at the police station.
Subject(s)
Mental Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aviation , England , Female , Forensic Psychiatry , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Police , Safety/legislation & jurisprudenceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study examines the validity and screening properties of the Borderline Syndrome Index--BSI (developed in the USA) for categories of the Personality Assessment Schedule--PAS (developed in the UK). METHOD: Patients were recruited by case control sampling. Chance corrected agreement between instruments and screening properties of the BSI were calculated. RESULTS: The BSI proved a moderately sensitive but non-specific screen. Questionnaire scores were highly correlated with symptom measures. CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support the validity of the BSI or its use as a screening instrument. BSI scores may be distorted by current symptoms.
