Outcome of admission to a medium secure psychiatric unit 2. Role of ethnicorigin

Background A follow-up of patients discharged from medium secure psychiatri c units is used to compare outcome in patients of different ethnic origin. Aims To test the hypothesis that there are systematic differences in clinic al outcome between ethnic groups. Method A descriptive, longitudinal cohort study of discharges from a medium secure unit is used to compare the 125 patients of White/European ethnic o rigin and the 104 patients of Black/African-Caribbean origin. Results Patients of African-Caribbean origin were admitted at three times t he rate of White patients, had a higher prevalence of psychosis and a lower prevalence of personality disorder. There was no difference in outcome as measured by location at follow-up, readmission or re-offending. Conclusions The higher rate of admission of African - Caribbean patients is consistent with a higher level of demand. There is a need for studies of t he pathways by which patients from ethnic minorities reach medium-security accommodation, with a view to early intervention. Declaration of interest The project was funded by a grant from the Departme nt of Health.