In England and Wales, the Mental Health Act 1983 is a legislation used to detain service users in mental health institutions to be evaluated and receive treatment. Despite guidelines recommending detention under this Act only in circumstances of high level of risk for those with “personality disorders”, some service level variables have emerged as risk factors for compulsory admission. For example, London based services have higher odds of detention. My research, therefore, aims to elucidate demographic risk factors and service level variables for compulsory admission under The Mental Health Act in people with “personality disorders”. 

I also would like to explore qualitative experiences of pathways to detention under this Act and specifically whether these could have been avoided and the subjective utility of them. This is grounded on the emerging position that the nature and treatment of “personality disorders” may differ to other disorders for which The Mental Health Act is frequently used such as psychosis and bipolar disorder. Autonomy may play a key role in the recovery process for individuals with “personality disorders”. These patients may have the capacity to engage with alternative and voluntary treatment plans which would reduce the use of more restrictive practices.