Publication
Title
Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders : state of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries
Author
Abstract
Background. Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care. Methods. The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions. Results. We analyzed the survey categorical data in themes, which highlight that both medical and legal actors are involved in involuntary admission procedures. Conclusions. We conclude that legal reasons for compulsory admission should be reworded in order to remove stigmatization of the patient, that raising awareness about involuntary admission procedures and patient rights with both patients and family advocacy groups is paramount, that communication about procedures should be widely available in lay-language for the general population, and that training sessions and guidance should be available for legal and medical practitioners. Finally, people working in the field need to be constantly aware about the ethical challenges surrounding compulsory admissions.
Language
English
Source (journal)
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists. - Paris, 1991, currens
Publication
Cambridge : Cambridge univ press , 2020
ISSN
0924-9338 [print]
1778-3585 [online]
DOI
10.1192/J.EURPSY.2020.79
Volume/pages
63 :1 (2020) , 9 p.
Article Reference
e82
ISI
000575415100001
Pubmed ID
32829740
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 25.08.2020
Last edited 02.10.2024
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