HC Deb 07 July 1969 vol 786 cc937-8
16. Mrs. Knight

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans there now are for the provision of special facilities for the treatment of psychopathic patients; whether he is satisfied with this provision; and if he will make a statement.

22. Mr. Booth

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what means the growing problem of the psychopathic patient is being dealt with; what steps are being taken to improve the facilities available for the treatment of such patients; and if he will give details of the facilities to deal with this.

Mr. Crossman

The term "psychopathic" covers a wide range of behaviour disorders, some of which may respond to medical treatment or to social training. There are differences of opinion among psychiatrists on methods of treatment, and, indeed, on whether any treatment is effective. Special facilities on a substantial scale can be developed only as medical knowledge increases. Regional hospital boards have been asked to try different approaches to treatment.

Mrs. Knight

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that reply is inadequate in the extreme? Is he satisfied that the pressures recently applied, particularly for psychopaths who have received a prison sentence and are not receiving sufficient care, are being considered in a sympathetic light?

Mr. Crossman

I think it is important for the hon. Lady to realise that what I said was true. If I had given a much more euphoric reply, I should not have been reflecting the truth. The truth is that these patients are in a way the most difficult. They are the ones left over when all other treatments have failed. It is no good my saying that we know the way to handle them. What I said, quite rightly, was that we cannot invest large sums of money for further treatment until research justifies the development of this treatment.

Mrs. Ewing

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possible usefulness of a study into whether nursery school education would be of service in trying to moderate, or even cure, psychopathic behaviour? There may be some usefulness in the maxim of catching a psychopath early enough. I have had evidence of this in my constituency. Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this problem seriously?

Mr. Crossman

There is a good deal of evidence on this. One of the few bits of firm evidence is that psychopathic abnormality often relates to very early happenings in a child's life. To that extent I agree with the hon. Lady.