Ethnicity and the Mental Health Act 1983.
BACKGROUND
Black and minority ethnic (BME) patients are disproportionately detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. There has been no systematic exploration of differences within and between ethnic groups, nor of the explanations put forward for this excess.


OBJECTIVE
To systematically review detention and ethnicity, with meta-analyses of detention rates for BME groups, and to explore the explanations offered for ethnic differences in detention rates.


METHODS
Literature search and meta-analysis. Explanations offered were categorised, supporting literature was accessed and the strength of the evidence evaluated.


RESULTS
In all, 49 studies met inclusion criteria; of these, 19 were included in the meta-analyses. Compared with White patients, Black patients were 3.83 times, BME patients 3.35 times and Asian patients 2.06 times more likely to be detained. The most common explanations related to misdiagnosis and discrimination against BME patients, higher incidence of psychosis and differences in illness expression. Many explanations, including that of racism within mental health services, were not supported by clear evidence.


CONCLUSIONS
Although BME status predicts psychiatric detention in the UK, most explanations offered for the excess detention of BME patients are largely unsupported.
Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. S.P.Singh@warwick.ac.uk
Swaran P
SP
Singh
Nan
N
Greenwood
Sarah
S
White
Rachel
R
Churchill
D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011287:Prejudice; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000208:ethnology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology