Involuntary admission from the patients' perspective.
BACKGROUND
Involuntary admission legislation and rates differ greatly throughout the European Union Member States. In Ireland, the Mental Health Act 2001 has introduced significant changes in the care for patients admitted involuntarily, including mental health tribunals that review the involuntary admission orders.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate (1) people's perception of the involuntary admission, (2) awareness of legal rights and perception of tribunal, (3) the impact of being admitted involuntarily on the relationship with their family, consultant psychiatrist and prospects for future employment.


METHODS
Over a 15-month period patients admitted involuntarily to a Dublin Hospital were interviewed using a semi structured interview.


RESULTS
Eighty-one people participated in the study. Seventy-two percent of patients believed that their involuntary admission was necessary at the time and this was associated with greater insight into illness. A total of 77.8% of patients felt that the treatment they received had been beneficial. A total of 86.4% of patients were aware that they had been admitted involuntarily and 45.5% of patients found it easier to accept that they had been admitted involuntarily as their case was reviewed by a tribunal. A total of 27.5% experienced a negative impact upon the relationship with their family as a result of the involuntary admission, while for 15% there was a positive impact. For 26.6% of patients the doctor-patient relationship was negatively impacted upon and a third felt their prospects for employment could be affected.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of patients reflect positively on their involuntary admission and this opportunity should be used to engage patients in follow-up treatment.
O'Donoghue
Brian
B
St John of God Psychiatry Rotation, Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Dublin, Ireland. briannoelodonoghue@gmail.com
Lyne
John
J
Hill
Michele
M
Larkin
Conall
C
Feeney
Larkin
L
O'Callaghan
Eadbhard
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D003068:Coercion; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005062:European Union; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires