The mATCH study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
People with AuTism detained within hospitals: defining the population, understanding aetiology and improving Care patHways (The mATCH study).
IRAS ID
181659
Contact name
Peter Langdon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Some people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act (2007) because of mental health problems, behavioural problems and risk. While all these patients have a diagnosis of ASD, their clinical presentations, risk behaviours, treatment needs and responses to treatment are very different. An inability to capture these differences adequately means that some patients stay in restrictive hospital settings for longer than needed. To minimise this risk and improve care, we need to tailor the care pathway to the needs of each individual patient. The current study aims to do this in two ways (1) systematically investigate a subtypology of people with ASD within psychiatric hospitals to examine whether this may help allocate people to receive the appropriate care, and (2) collect information over 1 year which can be used to improve their care pathway. This study will help to design better inpatient services and directly benefit patients by minimising the risk of them being in restrictive hospital settings for longer than necessary. From published work and consultation with experts, we have developed some proposed subtypes of people with ASD who are detained in hospital. We will initially ask clinicians, patients and family members to take part in a focus group to refine these further. We will collect data from at least 150 patients about behaviour, engagement in treatment and risk, and invite 100 of these patients to take part in some psychological testing. This will help determine if the subtypes are valid. We will follow-up patients for 12-months to see whether outcomes are different for different subtypes of patients and how this relates to the care pathway. We have asked people with ASD, and carers and family members to take part in this and share in the oversight of our research.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
15/WA/0246
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion