HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pinfold, V. Articles by Thornicroft, G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Pinfold, V. Articles by Thornicroft, G.

Supervised discharge orders in England

Compulsory care in the community

Section of Community Psychiatry (PRISM), Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF

^* Correspondence

Aims and method Supervised discharge orders were introduced in April 1996. This paper describes two national surveys of their use in all mental health provider trusts in England. Data were collected from key informants in mental health provider trusts using a postal survey in 1997, and a follow-up telephone survey in 1998.

Results The total number of patients subject to supervised discharge in 1997 was 160, a mean of one per trust. In 1998, there were 378 cases, a mean of two cases per trust. The annual period prevalence in 1998 can be estimated as 510 cases, approximately one per 100 000 total population per year. Seventeen applications of the ‘power to convey’ were identified.

Clinical implications Supervised discharge is regarded as suitable for very few patients, though its use is growing. The controversial power to convey is seldom used in practice and barriers to its use are described.