Changing patterns in emergency involuntary admissions in the Netherlands in the period 2000-2004.
BACKGROUND
In England, rates of involuntary admissions increased in subgroups of patients. It is unknown whether this is true in other European countries.


OBJECTIVE
To establish whether the increase in emergency commitments was uniform across subgroups of patients and dangerousness criteria used to justify commitment in The Netherlands.


METHODS
National data on all commitments in the period 2000-2004.


RESULTS
Commitments increased from 40.2 to 46.5 (16%) per 100,000 inhabitants. Controlling for population changes in age and sex, relatively large increases were found in patients over 50 years (25-40% increase), in patients with dementia (59%), 'other organic mental disorders' (40%) and substance abuse (36%). 'Arousing aggression', increased most strongly as a dangerousness criterion for commitment (30%).


CONCLUSIONS
Changing patterns of commitments in The Netherlands and England might indicate a wider European shift in diagnoses and reasons for admission of committed patients.
Mulder
C L
CL
Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Psychiatry and BavoEuropoort, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. c.l.mulder@erasmusmc.nl
Uitenbroek
D
D
Broer
J
J
Lendemeijer
B
B
van Veldhuizen
J R
JR
van Tilburg
W
W
Lelliott
P
P
Wierdsma
A I
AI
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology