ABSTRACT: One hundred consecutive patients detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) were investigated in terms of ethnicity, socio-demographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnosis, reasons for compulsory detention and immediate management. Of the total group, 26 were of West Indian origin and 65 were white. West Indian patients were more likely to be young, referred by the police, and detained because of violence. Schizophrenia was diagnosed much less frequently among the West Indian male patients.
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