Conditionally Discharged Restricted Patients in a General Adult Community Mental Health Setting

TL;DR

This study examines the characteristics and care of mentally ill patients conditionally discharged into the community, highlighting their high-risk profiles and the need for better support.

Contribution

The study provides the first detailed profile of conditionally discharged patients in general adult community mental health settings.

Findings

A third of conditionally discharged patients are supervised by general adult community mental health teams.

Most patients are older, male, unemployed, and diagnosed with schizophrenia or related disorders.

Main offenses involve serious violence to others using weapons.

Abstract

Aims: Little is known about the proportion and patient profile of conditionally discharged patients supervised by general adult community mental health teams (CMHTs). In this study we aimed to evaluate the number of patients and their demographic, clinical and risk profile, and current practice in terms of supervision and structures.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case note service evaluation of all conditionally discharged patients within a typical NHS Trust’s CMHTs.

Results: A third of all conditionally discharged patients within the Trust were supervised under the care of general adult community teams. The majority of patients were older, male, unemployed with schizophrenia and related disorder diagnoses. Main index offences were serious violence to others with use of weapons.

Conclusion: Conditionally discharged patients represent a low volume, high risk population. Supervision in the community is time and resource intensive. There is a need for NHS Trusts to ensure adequate support and structures, supervision, training, and joint working opportunity with forensic services to ensure safe quality care.