Cross-sectional survey of the use of section 5(2), Mental Health Act 1983, within a psychiatric hospital.

A survey of the use of section 5(2), Mental Health Act 1983 within a psychiatric hospital was carried out between January and December 2001. Using computer-based patient records, it was found that 89 patients were placed on a section 5(2) between January and December 2001. Data on patient demographics, hospital admission date, date of implementation of section 5(2), date of reassessment after section 5(2) and outcome of the assessment was obtained from these records.