Experiences of the ‘Nearest Relative’ provisions in the compulsory detention of people under the Mental Health Act: a rapid systematic review
Authors: Shaw Liz , Nunns Michael , Briscoe Simon , Anderson Rob , Thompson Coon Jo 
Published: December 2018

Background

Service users detained for assessment and/or treatment under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA 1983) are allocated a ‘Nearest Relative’ (NR). The NR has access to confidential information about the service user and can make decisions about their care and treatment. Tensions exist regarding the identification, displacement and powers of the NR.

Objectives

To examine the experiences of service users, carers and relevant professionals of the NR provisions of the MHA 1983, and the equivalent Named Person (NP) provisions in Scotland. Five research objectives were defined: understanding the experiences of and issues associated with (1) the identification of the NR, (2) the displacement of the NR, (3) confidentiality and information-sharing, (4) access to support from carers and (5) making decisions about treatment or care.

Data sources

Seven bibliographic databases were searched: MEDLINE (via Ovid), MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations (via Ovid), PsycINFO (via Ovid), Social Policy and Practice (via Ovid), Health Management Information Consortium (via Ovid), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (via EBSCOhost) and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (via ProQuest). Citation searching, author contact and grey literature searches were conducted.

Review methods

A rapid systematic review was conducted in 6 weeks. Evidence published after 1998 from the UK pertaining to the experiences of those involved in compulsory detention under the MHA 1983 (or UK variants), including service users, carers, family members, NRs, NPs, mental health professionals, policy-makers and lawyers, was sought. Study selection, data extraction and critical appraisal were completed independently by two reviewers. We looked for data about experiences, which were obtained through qualitative means or surveys. Included studies containing several paragraphs of participant quotations and/or author interpretations were entered into a framework synthesis; the rest were summarised descriptively. The framework synthesis was based on the five research objectives and refined using the findings of key studies from England and Scotland and an inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty studies were included with 12 prioritised for framework synthesis. Four themes emerged: (1) issues regarding the identification of the NR/NP, (2) confidentiality and information-sharing, (3) enabling the use of the NR/NP role and (4) the importance of maintaining relationships. The involvement of service users in choosing their representative and the role of services in supporting the NR/NP was identified as important.

Limitations

There is little recent evidence to inform this important and complex discussion. The review was rigorously conducted despite the short time scale; however, a more in-depth, iterative thematic analysis of all the included studies may have provided additional insights into the mechanisms underpinning the issues.

Conclusions

The NR provisions of the MHA 1983 are complex and of significant importance to individuals detained under the Mental Health Act and their carers. This rapid review provides specific examples of issues that individuals may experience. More research is needed to aid understanding of this complex topic.

Future work

Primary research specifically focused on the perceived and actual use and impact of the NR provisions in England and Scotland.

Study registration

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42018088237.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.