A prisoner with an antisocial personality disorder had almost completed his sentence for attempted murder and there was considerable public concern over his imminent release. The article discusses the many attempts made by the Victorian Government during the past six months to detain him. A recommendation was made to change the Mental Health Act 1986 by including personality disorders as a form of “mental illness”. The outcome of such advice has enormous implications for the practice of psychiatry in Victoria.
References
1.
WilliamsR. Minutes of Evidence of 8 Feb 1990 “Inquiry into Mental Disturbance and Community Violence” Social Development Committee. 1198.
2.
Law Reform Commission of Victoria. “The Concept of Mental Illness in the Mental Health Act 1986” Report No.31 April 1990.
3.
BarclayWA. Submission to the Social Development Committee 13 Feb 1990.
4.
Social Development Committee“Inquiry into Mental Disturbance and Community Safety — Interim Report” May 1990.
5.
Social Development Committee (op cit) 32.
6.
Vincent Mr Justice. Minutes of Evidence 19 Oct 1989 “Inquiry into Mental Disturbance and Community Violence”. Social Development Committee. 796.
7.
Mental Health Review Board. Appeal of Garry Ian Webb (also known as Garry Ian Patrick David) a security patient at Aradale Hospital. No. 230190:X01:300512.
8.
Mental Health Review Board (op cit) 73.
9.
Victorian Branch, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. “Some Comments on ‘Personality Disorder', ‘Mental Illness’ and Involuntary Hospitalisation”. 7 Feb 1989.
10.
American Psychiatric Association. “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”. 3rd ed. Revised. Washington DC. American Psychiatric Press Inc.1987.
11.
Mental Health Review Board (op cit) 107–8.
12.
Mental Health Review Board (op cit) 128.
13.
Mental Health Review Board (op cit) 130.
14.
Social Development Committee (op cit) Chairperson's Preface xii.
