To move or not to move – that is the question! Some reflections on the transfer of DSPD patients in the face of uncertainty

Abstract

While there are explicit criteria denoting those who are appropriate for admission to the new dangerous with severe personality disorder (DSPD) services in England and Wales, there are no corresponding criteria to identify those who should leave. In the absence of explicit criteria, two likely areas of evaluation are examined in this paper. The first of these concerns an assessment of the risk that these individuals might pose after their discharge from high secure DSPD hospital units. The second examines the impact of the interventions employed, specifically whether or not these are effective in reducing the risk that such individuals might pose on release. As there are few empirical data to inform clinical decision making in either of these areas, it is unlikely that DSPD designated individuals will be able to progress to lower levels of security unless these gaps in the evidence are addressed.

Keywords:

• Transfer of DSPD patients
• risk assessment