Clinical decision making during assessment for involuntary psychiatric admission.
Twenty-four clinicians (five psychiatrists, five registered nurses, and 14 counselors) participated in a psychophenomenological study of the decision-making process in assessing clients for involuntary psychiatric hospital admission. In interviews, the clinicians were asked to describe a situation in which the admission assessment was especially difficult. Analysis of the interviews identified nine essential structural elements of the decision-making process: systematic and individualized process, state-mandated criteria, investigation of alternatives, decision not made alone, intuitive reasoning, connection with the client, caution, and inability to control all contingencies.
Anderson
J
J
School of Nursing of the Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699, USA.
Eppard
J
J
D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003657:Decision Making; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D009820:Ohio; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010552:Personality Assessment