(2) how many people are (a) detained and (b) receiving treatment for (i) personality disorder and (ii) dangerous severe personality disorder.
[holding answer 20 April 2007]: Personality disorders are common conditions, with a considerable variation in the severity and degree of distress and dysfunction caused. An independent study, “The Epidemiology of Personality Disorders” by Dr. Paul Moran, in 2002 reported a prevalence rate of personality disorder amongst adults in the community of 10 to 13 per cent. However, this estimate is for all personality disorders, and a separate prevalence rate for dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD) was not made in the Moran study.
Approximately 250 to 300 people are being treated and supported by established specialist national health service personality disorder services, without any form of detention, and an additional 1300 people in new medium secure, community forensic and non-forensic pilot services. Of the latter, about 50 people at any one time will be undergoing in-patient assessment or treatment under sections of the Mental Health Act. There are 40 secure places within forensic mental health services for people with personality disorder who need treatment under detention. A further 400 male patients are detained on court orders under the legal category of psychopathic disorder in secure psychiatric hospitals.
DSPD is not a clinical diagnosis but a description of a patient profile for those whose personality disorder is of an acuteness or severity and risk to indicate they are likely to be the most serious threat to others. There are an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 individuals in the prison population who meet DSPD criteria. Although there are no existing research data on the number of people with DSPD in the community, further work has been commissioned to provide prospective data about the size of this group, which are expected to be available later this year.
DSPD pilot services are provided within Rampton and Broadmoor high secure hospitals and Her Majesty’s Prisons at Whitemoor, Frankland and Low Newton. The current figures for those receiving assessment and treatment within these services is 66 in the national health service and 143 in the prison estate. All are detained, with a majority serving current prison sentences.