Mental disorder no longer split into separate classifications

Date in force	Commencement order	MHA 2007 section	MHA 1983 sections affected
3/11/08	Mental Health Act 2007 (Commencement No. 6 and After-care under Supervision: Savings, Modifications and Transitional Provisions) Order 2008	Section 1 insofar as it gives effect to paragraph 13 of Schedule 1	s66
3/11/08	Mental Health Act 2007 (Commencement No.7 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2008	Remainder of section 1 and sch 1	s3, s7, s20, s35, s36, s37, s38, s45A, s47, s48, s51, s72, s86, s141, s145. [Other Acts are amended, including MCA sch 4 para 23]

The definition of mental disorder is changed by the MHA 2007, as of 3/11/08, so that it is no longer split into the four classifications of mental illness, psychopathic disorder, mental impairment and severe mental impairment.

s1 now states that:

"mental disorder" means any disorder or disability of the mind.

There are, however, two exceptions. See these pages for details:

• Abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct is only a consideration for learning disability (not personality disorder) 3/11/08 - Learning disability is not mental disorder unless associated with this conduct.

• Some exclusions to definition of mental disorder have been removed 3/11/08 - dependence on alcohol or drugs is still excluded.