Self-harm, capacity, and refusal of treatment: implications for emergency medical practice. A prospective observational study.
OBJECTIVE
In the context of increasing attention to the rights of adults to make treatment decisions for themselves, this study investigated, among patients who have engaged in self-harm (i) the extent of valid decision making; (ii) the impact of mental disorders; and (iii) the effect of systematically providing relevant clinical information.


METHODS
A prospective observational study.


METHODS
The emergency department of a large teaching hospital in southeast England.


METHODS
Seventy one adult men and women who had presented for treatment following self-harm.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews were used to make clinical judgements about participants' capacity to consent before, and following, the presentation of simple written information about the proposed treatment(s). Demographic data, and data about mental disorder and alcohol misuse, were also collected.


RESULTS
Based on accepted legal criteria, only 28/71 (39.4%) of the patients were judged to have capacity to consent to the proposed intervention(s) initially. However, the number of patients judged to have capacity improved significantly (p<0.001) after the presentation of written information, to 45/71 (63.4%). Those judged incapable were significantly more likely (p<0.01) to refuse treatment. Continuing incapacity was significantly associated only with cognitive impairment (p<0.001) and/or severe psychiatric disturbance (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with current views, capacity is not static, even among patients who have engaged in self-harm, but can be improved through a simple intervention. The findings are consistent with recent guidance about supporting this vulnerable group of patients, many of whom are ambivalent about treatment.
Jacob
R
R
Division of Psychiatry, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
Clare
I C H
IC
Holland
A
A
Watson
P C
PC
Maimaris
C
C
Gunn
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D016743:Mental Competency; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016312:Treatment Refusal