title: Perceptions of the use of compulsory detention in treatment of people with eating disorders.
abstract: To examine the perceived acceptability of compulsory detention in treatment of an individual with severe anorexia nervosa amongst a sample of members of the general population, 151 participants read vignettes describing the compulsory detention of a female patient with a Body Mass Index of 12.4. The vignettes systematically varied along three dimensions: patients' reaction, immediate outcome (psychological state), and long-term outcome (attendance at out-patient appointments). Acceptability was measured using the Treatment Evaluation Inventory. There were significant main effects of psychological outcome and the long-term treatment outcome. The main effect of the patients' reaction to the detention was not significant, but there was a significant interaction for psychological outcome and long-term outcome, such that good attendance at out-patient appointments increased ratings of acceptability more markedly when a good psychological outcome had been secured. The outcome of treatment exerts a strong influence on ratings of acceptability. Individuals who have no direct experience with eating disorders endorse treatments that are effective irrespective of the patients' feelings about the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dental Public Health and Oral Health Services Research, GKT Dental Institute, King's College London, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RW, UK. Tim.Newton@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Himali
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sturmey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000628:therapy*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003068:Coercion; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome