Retrospective cohort follow-up study of individuals detained under Section 136.

Background: An original cohort study found that over half of the individuals detained under Section 136 (S136) of the Mental Health Act 1983 were discharged home after assessment, and nearly half were intoxicated.

Aims: To investigate whether the cohort was followed up by psychiatric services, characterise those repeatedly detained and assess whether substance use was related to these outcomes.

Method: Data were retrospectively collected from the notes of 242 individuals, who presented after S136 detention to a place of safety over a 6-month period, and were followed up for 1 year.

Results: After 1 year, 48% were in secondary care. Those with psychosis were the most likely to be admitted. Diagnoses of personality disorder or substance use were associated with multiple detentions; however, few were in contact with secondary services.

Conclusions: Crisis and long-term care pathways for these groups need to be developed to reduce repeated and unnecessary police detention.

Declaration of interest: None.

Copyright and usage: © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.