[Ethical attitudes towards involuntary admission and involuntary treatment of patients with schizophrenia].
OBJECTIVE
Involuntary commitment and treatment of patients with schizophrenia pose ethical dilemmas on all persons involved--doctors, judges, custodians and relatives. Both respect of the patient's autonomy, effective treatment (beneficence) and avoiding of harm (non-maleficence) are ethically desirable.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
Different ethical theories can be the base of diverging attitudes and corresponding decisions, though the acting persons frequently are not aware of such underlying concepts. There is evidence from empirical studies that the attitudes towards involuntary treatment depend on variables such as profession, age, nationality and own experiences with mental illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research should focus on outcomes and the user perspective and should pave the way to an evidence-supported ethics.
Steinert
Tilman
T
Zentrum für Psychiatrie Weissenau, Abt. Psychiatrie I der Universität Ulm, 88190 Ravensburg. tilman.steinert@zfp-weissenau.de
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003068:Coercion; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents