First admissions to a regional secure unit over a 16-year period: changes in demographic and service characteristics

Arnold Lodge Regional Secure Unit has provided medium secure psychiatric care for the Trent Regional Health Authority since July 1983. We examined a series of 504 first admissions to Arnold Lodge in order to explore trends in demographic and service utilization characteristics over 16 years. We found an increase in the admission of more serious offenders; a reduction in the length of stay; a decline in the proportion of psychopathically disordered patients; and a sixfold increase in the ratio of men to women.