Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:35:44.121Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The National Survey of PICU and Low Secure Services: 2. Unit characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2007

Stephen Pereira ,
Paul Dawson  and
May Sarsam
Stephen Pereira
Affiliation:
Honorary Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, Goodmayes Hospital, Barley Lane, Essex, UK
Paul Dawson
Affiliation:
Research Psychologist, Goodmayes Hospital, Barley Lane, Essex, UK
May Sarsam
Affiliation:
Research Psychologist, Goodmayes Hospital, Barley Lane, Essex, UK
Get access

Abstract

Background: Low Secure Mental Health Services provide care for highly disturbed psychiatric inpatients. Little is known about the provision of such services in the UK.

Aims: To perform the first UK wide survey developing a national data set for Low Secure Services.

Method: A cross-sectional census day postal survey design was employed.

Results: A total of 307 units were identified in the UK, this was comprised of 170 Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) housing 1,242 patients and 137 Low Secure Units (LSUs) treating 1,583 patients. The survey achieved a 98% response rate. PICUs on average had more qualified staff and were more medically oriented than LSUs. PICUs offer a time limited, medically oriented treatment strategy with a higher number of qualified nursing staff then LSUs. Whereas, LSUs placed more of an emphasis on long-term therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation.

Conclusions: Although there were a variety of names, Low Secure Services were organised into two main categories of unit: the PICU and the LSU. These names should be adopted nation-wide as standard. There is need for a national strategy relating to the way PICUs and LSUs are developed.

Keywords

Psychiatric intensive carelow secure servicesunit characteristics
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , June 2006 , pp. 13 - 19
Copyright
© 2006 NAPICU

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Beer, D., Pereira, S. and Paton, C. (2001) Psychiatric intensive care; development and definition. In: Beer, D., Pereira, P. and Paton, C. (Eds). Psychiatric Intensive Care. London: Greenwich Medical Media.
Coid, J.W. (1991) A survey of patients from five health districts receiving special care in the private sector. Psychiatric Bulletin. 15: 257–262.Google Scholar
Dawson, P., Kingsley, M. and Pereira, S.M. (2005) Violent patients within Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs): treatment approaches, resistance and the impact upon staff. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. 1: 45–53.Google Scholar
Department of Health (2002) National Minimum Standards for General Adult Services in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) and Low Secure Environments, (Eds Pereira, S. and Clinton, C.). Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide. Department of Health.
Department of Health and Home Office (1992) Review of Health and Social Services for Mentally Disordered Offenders and Other Requiring Similar Services (Reed Report). London: DoH/Home Office.
Department of Health and Social Services (1974). Revised Report for the Working Party on Security in NHS Psychiatric Hospitals (The Glancy Report). London: DHSS.
Dix, R. (2005) Psychiatric intensive care and low secure units past, present and future – introducing the Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. 1(1): 1–2.Google Scholar
Hyde., E. McKenzie, K., Mullen, R. and Murray, R. (1998) Violence, dissatisfaction and rapid tranquillisation in psychiatric intensive care. Psychiatric Bulletin. 22: 477–480.Google Scholar
Khan, A., Cohen, S. and Stowell, M. (1987) The therapeutic role of a PICU in acute psychosis. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 28(3): 264–269.Google Scholar
Maden, A. (2001) Medium secure care and research in forensic psychiatry. British Journal of Psychiatry. 178: 5–6.Google Scholar
Musisi, S.M., Wasylenki, D.A. and Rapp, M.S. (1989) A psychiatric intensive care unit in a psychiatric hospital. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 34(3): 200–204.Google Scholar
Pereira, S.M., Sarsam, M., Bhu, K. and Paton, C. (2005a) The London Survey of Psychatric Intensive Care Units: psychiatric intensive care; patient characteristics and paty-ways for admission and discharge. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. Cambridge University Press. (1): 17–24.Google Scholar
Pereira, S.M., Sarsam, M., Bhu, K. and Paton, C. (2005b) The London Survey of Psychatric Intensive Care Units: service provision and operational characteristics of National Health Service Units. Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care. Cambridge University Press. (1): 7–15.Google Scholar
Pereira, S., Beer, D. and Paton, C. (1999) Good practice issues in psychiatric intensive care units: findings from a national survey. Psychiatric Bulletin. 23: 397–399.Google Scholar
Stone, J.H., Roberts, M., Ogrady, J., Taylor, K. and Shea, O. (2000) Faulks Basic Forensic Psychiatry. Blackwell Scientific.