[Evaluation of following the regulations of informed consent for treatment in a psychiatric hospital].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the frequency of following the regulations of informed consent for treatment in a psychiatric hospital.


METHODS
200 patients who were admitted to 4 psychiatric hospitals were studied with a structured questionnaire. In a random-purpose selection, patients with dementia, lower intellectual capability and those who were incapacitated were not taken into account.


CONCLUSIONS
Amongst the 200 patients admitted for a psychiatric hospital treatment 73 (36.5%) confirmed a conscious informed consent, 25 (12.5%) agreed but according to the researchers they were not capable to express conscious consent, but 102 (51%) did not agree to being treated. The first group was dominated by women (57.5%). 17.8% of the patients from this group were directed to hospital with no prior examination. 97.3% expressed conscious agreement to treatment, whilst 2.7% were hesitant. In the second group the ratio of women to men was similar. Only one patient was directed to the hospital with no prior examination. 68.0% patients expressed conscious agreement to treatment and 32.0% were hesitant. In the third group, there were more men--55.9%. 27.5% of the patients were sent to hospital with no examination prior to that. 76.5% of the patients had expressed a conscious agreement to being treated and 23.5% were hesitant. In the 1st group non-psychotic disorders dominated over the schizophrenic psychoses, amongst these there were affective disorders--37% and others. In the 2nd group the schizophrenic psychoses definitely were the most common--60% amongst the other disorders. The treatment of these individuals required formal consent--notification of the court--which was not done in any single case. In the 3rd, the schizophrenic psychoses also were those most frequently present--40.2% over other diagnoses amongst which there were affective disorders--23.5%, and others. The persons studied were not asked for consent, amongst these--63.7% were solely informed and treated, whilst 36.3% were not even informed and treated. The differences between the three groups in the distribution of the diagnoses are statistically significant.
Dabrowski
Stanisław
S
Z Instytutu Psychiatrii i Neurologii w Warszawie.
Brodniak
Włodzimierz A
WA
Welbel
Stefan
S
D000328:Adult; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011044:Poland; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data