Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Outcome of admission to a medium secure psychiatric unit. 2. Role of ethnic origin
A Maden1, C Friendship, T McClintock
1Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London.
Background:
A follow-up of patients discharged from medium secure psychiatric units is used to compare outcome in patients of different ethnic origin.
Aims:
To test the hypothesis that there are systematic differences in clinical outcome between ethnic groups.
Method:
A descriptive, longitudinal cohort study of discharges from a medium secure unit is used to compare the 125 patients of White/European ethnic origin and the 104 patients of Black/African-Caribbean origin.
Results:
Patients of African-Caribbean origin were admitted at three times the rate of White patients, had a higher prevalence of psychosis and a lower prevalence of personality disorder. There was no difference in outcome as measured by location at follow-up, readmission or re-offending.
Conclusions:
The higher rate of admission of African-Caribbean patients is consistent with a higher level of demand. There is a need for studies of the pathways by which patients from ethnic minorities reach medium-security accommodation, with a view to early intervention.
Related Concept Videos
Surveys
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Obedience
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

