title: Involuntary hospitalization: an issue for the consultation-liaison psychiatrist.
abstract: Little has been written about the issue of involuntary hospitalization in consultation-liaison psychiatry. Nevertheless, patients frequently seen in medical and surgical settings may be judged to be a danger to themselves or others because of psychiatric disorders that cloud cognition, impair judgment, or modify insight, and judicial or administrative proceedings leading to involuntary commitment may be needed. The C-L psychiatrist will be the physician most knowledgeable about the concepts of involuntary hospitalization, competency and informed consent. Clinical examples illustrate issues that may arise.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy; D012803:Sick Role; D000092864:Suicide Prevention