Behavioral precipitants to civil commitment.
The authors examined retrospectively the prehospitalization behavior of 66 voluntary and involuntary psychiatric patients to determine precipitating factors in each person's hospitalization. Involuntary patients had engaged in dangerous acts directed against others more frequently than had voluntary patients. However, very little significant harm was caused by members of either group.
D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence