[Involuntary hospital admissions of mentally ill patients--how specific are differences among the German Federal...

Estimates for the proportion of involuntary admissions and coercive measures applied in general mental health care and in residential care for the elderly were developed. Sector-specific rates and quotas for Germany as a whole and for the sixteen Federal States were calculated, and the change of these indicators between 1993 and 2003 analysed.

Statistical modeling of epidemiologic and juridical data ("Amtsgerichtsstatistik") was performed.

Against an overall increase of involuntary admissions into psychiatric hospitals per 100,000 population, the overall German percentage of involuntary admissions on all admissions into inpatient mental health care remained rather stable between 1993 and 2003. The number of legal coercive measures during inpatient stays has risen. On a Federal State level, these indicators varied considerably across the states and over time.

An overall increase of involuntary admissions was not detected from the calculations. Detailed analyses of the increase of coercive measures during psychiatric inpatient stays are still needed. The implementation of a detailed reporting routine of these indicators is strongly recommended.