[Compulsory treatments in Macao: the first five years]

To characterize compulsory treatments done in Macao in the five years after its implementation in 1999.

A descriptive and retrospective study was done consulting the clinical files of persons that did compulsory treatments in Macao in the five years after its implementation.

The court always confirmed the requests for compulsory admissions, 24 patients were admitted and 14 cases (58.3%) were men. The patients had a median age of 37.7 years (SD+/-14.4). The most frequent motive of admission was danger and incapacity to consent treatment, in 16 cases (66.5%). The admission was urgent in 18 cases (75%) and the diagnosis of psychosis was made in 23 cases (95.8%). The length of hospitalization was 69 days (SD+/-47.9; minimum=2; Maximum=170). Compulsory ambulatory treatments were made in 6 cases (25%) and lasted 771 days (SD+/-380.5; minimum=76; Maximum=963). Annually, quotas of compulsory admissions varied between 0% and 2.4% and commitment rates between 0 and 1.7.

Quotas and commitment rates for compulsory admissions appeared inferior compared, for example, to the ones of the European Union. Compulsory treatments were important, allowing to start therapeutics, that otherwise would be impossible, and to overcome dangerous situations. There is a need in Macao to clarify the population and relevant professional sectors about these treatments so that, whenever indicated, patients can benefit from them quickly and in better circumstances.