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Psychiatric Bulletin (2007) 31: 194. doi: 10.1192/pb.31.5.194c
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Correspondence

Which medications for side-effects should be included on forms 38 and 39?

Camilla Haw, Consultant Psychiatrist

St Andrew’s Healthcare, Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5DG, email: chaw{at}standrew.co.uk

Maria McIntyre, Clinical Pharmacist

St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton

We recently surveyed the medication prescribed to 145 detained in-patients to determine which drugs for the side-effects of psychotropics were included on Mental Health Act forms 38 and 39 and which were not. Clinicians were largely in agreement that drugs for motor disorders, hypersalivation and antipsychotic-induced seizures should be included whereas drugs for constipation, dyspepsia and metabolic syndrome should not. There was, however, disagreement about inclusion of drugs for weight reduction. Neither the Code of Practice (Department of Health & Welsh Office, 1999) nor the Memorandum (Department of Health & Welsh Office, 1998) indicates which medicines should or should not be included on treatment authorisation forms. According to the Mental Health Act Commission guidance note for commissioners on consent to treatment, ‘adjuvant medication without which the therapeutic objectives of alleviation of the symptoms of mental disorder... could not be achieved’ should be included, but laxatives are specifically excluded (Mental Health Act Commission, 2002).

It appears that current practice regarding which drugs for side-effects to include or exclude has arisen haphazardly. The simplest solution would be to include none. The Mental Health Act is concerned with treatment for mental disorder and makes no mention of medications for side-effects.

References

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & WELSH OFFICE (1998) Mental Health Act 1983. Memorandum on Parts I to VI, VIII and X. TSO (The Stationery Office).

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & WELSH OFFICE (1999) Code of Practice Mental Health Act 1983. TSO (The Stationery Office).

MENTAL HEALTH ACT COMMISSION (2002) Guidance for Commissioners on Consent to Treatment and Section 58 of the Mental Health Act. Mental Health Act Commission.





This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
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Citing Articles
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Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Haw, C.
Right arrow Articles by McIntyre, M.
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PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Haw, C.
Right arrow Articles by McIntyre, M.

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