'Dangerous and severe personality disorder': an illustration of the risk society within psychiatry

This paper analyses the newly proposed United Kingdom (UK) psychiatric diagnosis of 'dangerous severe personality disorder' ('DSPD'). The analysis aims to show how 'DSPD' characterises Beck's analysis of the 'risk society'. Concepts such as 'dangerousness', 'violence' and 'risk' are critically reviewed in relation to 'DSPD' and are found to be less than objective. The paper interrogates the political underpinnings of this newly proposed diagnosis and analyses pre-existing frameworks of potential utility for developing further understanding of mental health. Key issues are critically discussed in relation to the concept of 'dangerousness' including the reliability of assessment tools, the socio-economic status of those potentially diagnosed and detention without committing any prior offence. The paper also discusses the potential for conflict between the proposed legislation, the UK Human Rights Act 1998, healthcare practice and the likelihood of divided professional loyalties. The paper argues that this newly proposed health policy has a socio-political rather than psychiatric rationale for justifying psychiatric detention and, as such, is an illustration of the late modern culture of risk within the field of mental health.