When is a voluntary commitment really voluntary?
Cognitive disorganization limits a person's capacity to act voluntarily, because such action requires a significant degree of attention and comprehension. The compliance of a psychotic person who fails to understand his own actions may be construed by clinicans as voluntary behavior. This possible misuse of voluntary hospitalization is examined, and the employment of categories other than voluntary and involuntary is suggested.
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003657:Decision Making; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014481:United States