[Evaluations for informed consent for various long-term psychiatric treatments].
OBJECTIVE
The study was created with two distinct objectives: the first, an investigation into the quality of informed consent in patients assited by the mental health department for the Region of Puglia. The second, to look at the possibility of implementing a systematic use of tested monitoring of the daily practices of the psychiatric services.


METHODS
The use of the structured MacCAT-T (modified) interview was implemented. The interview was carried out on 708 patients across all areas of the mental health deparment for the Region of Puglia: 77 SPDC patients, 336 outpatients and 295 patients residing in rehabilitation centres.


RESULTS
31.2% of patients voluntarily hospitalised in SPDC did not know the motivations for their hospitalisation. 46.1% of patients in rehabilitation centres were also unaware of the reasons for their stay. Further problems arose in data regarding the prognosis of the disorders: 62.3% of SPDC patients, 65% of patients in rehabilitation centres and 39% of outpatients coud not describe the prognosis of their disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
As a result of the study, the authors therefore propose: consensus monitoring through a standardised method providing targets for service improvement. The monitoring however, must be made integral in the daily activities of clinical observation. Applying the practice of consent evaluation would provide adequate support in requiring then suitable methods of legal protection, such as administrative support, which could then aid in creating correct legal continuity in treatment.
Catanesi
Roberto
R
Sezione di Criminologia e Psichiatria Forense, DIMIMP, Università di Bari.
Carabellese
Felice
F
Candelli
Chiara
C
La Tegola
Donatella
D
Taratufolo
Rosa
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult