[Crisis Cards for the Prevention of Compulsory Hospitalization].
OBJECTIVE
To assess early signs of mental-health crises, treatment-specific demands and individual coping strategies from the subjective patients' perspective, and to categorize these specifications on the patients' crisis cards.


METHODS
A sample of 108 psychiatric patients with severe mental disorders is currently taking part in an intervention programme targeting the reduction of compulsory re-admission to psychiatry. As part of the programme, patients fill in a crisis card. Data are analysed by a qualitative approach using content analysis.


RESULTS
A variety of early signs of a crisis was specified by the psychiatric patients, most often negative emotions/thoughts (48 %). Likewise, the analysis revealed a wide range of treatment-specific preferences and individual strategies to cope with mental-health crises.


CONCLUSIONS
Drawing up a crisis card in collaboration with a patient and discussing its contents might be used as a treatment resource and be beneficial to increase the patient's empowerment. Essential for the long-term prevention of mental-health crises and relapses is the regular reflection of the contents of a patient's crisis card.
Zürcher Impulsprogramm zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Psychiatrie (ZInEP), Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Schweiz.
Thekla
T
Drack-Schönenberger
Zürcher Impulsprogramm zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Psychiatrie (ZInEP), Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Schweiz.
Marco
M
Bleiker
Zürcher Impulsprogramm zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Psychiatrie (ZInEP), Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Schweiz.
Silke
S
Lengler
Zürcher Impulsprogramm zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Psychiatrie (ZInEP), Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Schweiz.
Christina
C
Blank
Zürcher Impulsprogramm zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Psychiatrie (ZInEP), Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Schweiz.
Wulf
W
Rössler
Zürcher Impulsprogramm zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung der Psychiatrie (ZInEP), Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Schweiz.
Barbara
B
Lay
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*