Characteristics of referrals and admissions to a medium secure ASD unit
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour
ISSN: 2050-8824
Article publication date: 8 September 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary data on a cohort of patients referred to a specialist forensic medium-secure autism spectrum disorder (ASD) service during its first two years of opening and to identify variables associated with admission to the service.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on all referrals to the service (n=40) was obtained from clinical files on demographics, offending history, psychiatric history and levels of therapeutic engagement. The sample was divided into two groups: referred and admitted (n=23) and referred and not admitted (n=17). Statistical analysis compared the two groups on all variables.
Findings
Totally, 94 per cent of all individuals assessed had a diagnosis of autism, however, structured diagnostic tools for ASD were used in a small minority of cases. About half the sample had a learning disability, almost four-fifths had at least one additional mental disorder and almost three-quarters had a history of prior supervision failure or non-compliance with treatment. The sample had a wide range of previous offences. No significant differences were found between the groups on any of the variables included in the study.
Research limitations/implications
The present study presents a starting point to follow up in terms of response to treatment and characteristics associated with treatment outcome.
Practical implications
The sample had a wide range of clinical and risk-related needs. Both groups shared many similarities.
Originality/value
This highlights the need for comprehensive assessment looking at risk-related needs so that individuals are referred to an optimal treatment pathway.
Keywords
Citation
O' Donoghue, T., Shine, J. and Orimalade, O. (2014), "Characteristics of referrals and admissions to a medium secure ASD unit", Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 5 No. 3, pp. 138-146. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-06-2014-0008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited