Citation

Wheatley M, Waine J, Spence K, Hollin CR. Clin. Psychol. Psychother. 2004; 11(2): 83-89.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/cpp.398

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Despite the recognition of the need for secure adolescent mental health provision, the extent and precise nature of the services required in the United Kingdom remains unquantified. The present study describes some of the key characteristics of 80 young people referred from around the United Kingdom for medium secure health care. The pattern of referrals indicates a substantial need for secure health care in the 14- to 18-year-old age range. Young people requiring such care present most commonly with psychotic, personality or post traumatic stress disorder. Nearly half of the young people (45%) were requiring constant observation. Over 90% of those assessed presented a risk of aggression and over 60% presented a suicide risk. Over half (53%) had been charged with one or more offence and 29% had at least one conviction. The need for the further development of an adolescent forensic specialism is supported by these data. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; crime; human; suicide; female; male; autism; United Kingdom; aggression; forensic psychiatry; psychosis; posttraumatic stress disorder; mood disorder; conduct disorder; article; major clinical study; eating disorder; mental health care; personality disorder; juvenile delinquency; child psychiatry; high risk population; priority journal; patient referral; health care need; clinical observation; hospital care