Characteristics of offenders referred to a medium secure NHS personality disorder service: The first five years

Abstract

Background: As new services for offenders with personality disorder emerge in the UK, there is interest in the methods of assessments and characteristics of patients admitted.; Aim: To evaluate use of selection criteria for admission to a dedicated personality disorder service within medium secure hospital provision in the UK, and to test for features that discriminate between those admitted and those rejected.; Method: A structured multidisciplinary assessment was administered to offenders referred to a new personality disorder service in a medium secure psychiatric unit. The evaluation included self-report and observer ratings across a range of domains including categorical axis I disorders and axis II disorders, dimensional assessment of personality and ratings of intellect and risk.; Results: Sixty-eight male offenders were assessed, of whom 47 were offered admission. No differences were found between those accepted or rejected on demographic, offence and most clinical characteristics. Axis I comorbidity was high in both groups (over 90%). There was no indication of staff overriding exclusion criteria but men who were accepted had greater extraversion and conscientiousness on the NEO-FFI.; Conclusion: Staff screening men for suitability for admission to this new specialist medium security hospital unit stayed true to given exclusion criteria in their decision not to offer a bed. Characteristics with face value as qualities necessary for engagement in treatments appeared to influence positive choices. Next steps will be to test the validity of choice with outcome studies.; Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.