Detaining patients in the general hospital - current practice and pitfalls.

Aims: Much has been written about the use of the Mental Health Act in psychiatric settings. There is, however, little written on its use to detain patients with mental disorder in general hospitals.

Method And Results: We therefore carried out a survey of the use of the Mental Health Act in general hospital settings in Aberdeen, and also posted a questionnaire to Scottish Liaison Psychiatrists, asking about their experience of the use of the Mental Health Act in general hospitals.