Most studies of patients subject to compulsory admission to psychiatric hospital examine only the population of those already subject to compulsion. This prospective study examines the whole population of patients who have been formally assessed for compulsory admission, and includes those where the decision was taken not to proceed with compulsory admission.

All Approved Social Workers in the County of Norfolk were asked to complete data collection sheets contemporaneously for each formal assessment for admission taking place in terms of the Mental Health Act 1983 over the period 2001 – 2006 inclusive. This data was then collated centrally and subject to analysis regarding demographic and other factors associated with requests for assessment and decisions to actually use compulsory admission powers.

Data on about 5000 individual formal Mental Health Act 1983 assessments were collected representing over 95% of the total number of such assessments carried out during this period in Norfolk.

There were significant associations between gender, age, marital status and accommodation and both referral for formal assessment and compulsory admission to psychiatric hospital. Some aspects of these associations were unexpected and are discussed further.