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Involuntary admission from the patients’ perspective

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

Aims

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.

Conclusion

The majority of patients reflect positively on their involuntary admission and this opportunity should be used to engage patients in follow-up treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Sandra Bollard, Mental Health Act administrator in St John of God Hospital and Dr Daria Brennan who provided invaluable assistance to the study. We are also grateful to the participants as well as the psychiatrists and nurses in St John of God Hospital and Cluain Mhuire Family Centre for facilitating this study.

Conflict of interest statement

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. St John of God Psychiatry Rotation, Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Dublin, Ireland

    Brian O’Donoghue & John Lyne

  2. Cluain Mhuire Community Mental Health Services, Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland

    Michele Hill & Larkin Feeney

  3. Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Dublin, Ireland

    Conall Larkin & Eadbhard O’Callaghan

  4. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

    Larkin Feeney

  5. DETECT-Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Avila House, Block 5, Blackrock Business Park, Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland

    Eadbhard O’Callaghan

  6. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Eadbhard O’Callaghan

Authors
  1. Brian O’Donoghue
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  2. John Lyne
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  3. Michele Hill
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  4. Conall Larkin
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  5. Larkin Feeney
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  6. Eadbhard O’Callaghan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian O’Donoghue.

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O’Donoghue, B., Lyne, J., Hill, M. et al. Involuntary admission from the patients’ perspective. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 45, 631–638 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0104-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0104-7

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