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Section 1: Application of Act: "mental disorder".

Mental Health Act 1983 · 1983 c. 20View on legislation.gov.uk

Part I: Application of Act

The provisions of this Act shall have effect with respect to the reception, care and treatment of mentally disordered patients, the management of their property and other related matters.

In this Act—

  • "mental disorder" means any disorder or disability of the mind; and

  • "mentally disordered" shall be construed accordingly;

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and other expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them in section 145 below.

But a person with learning disability shall not be considered by reason of that disability to be—

suffering from mental disorder for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2B) below; or
requiring treatment in hospital for mental disorder for the purposes of sections 17E and 50 to 53 below,

unless that disability is associated with abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on his part.

The provisions are—

sections 3, 7, 17A, 20 and 20A below;
sections 35 to 38, 45A, 47, 48 and 51 below; and
section 72(1)(b) and (c) and (4) below.

Dependence on alcohol or drugs is not considered to be a disorder or disability of the mind for the purposes of subsection (2) above.

In subsection (2A) above, "learning disability" means a state of arrested or incomplete development of the mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.