Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
Psychiatrists' opinions about involuntary civil commitment: results of a national survey
1Department of Criminal Justice, Worcester State College, 486 Chandler St., Worcester, MA 01602, USA. rbrooks@worcester.edu
Abstract:
This article presents results of a national survey of psychiatrists in the United States about involuntary civil commitment. The questionnaire, created by the researcher, asked respondents about their knowledge of and support for various legal standards surrounding inpatient and outpatient commitment. Data from 739 members of the American Psychiatric Association indicated support for relatively limited definitions of mental disorder for purposes of commitment and relatively limited legal grounds for commitment. Respondents frequently gave inaccurate responses about the grounds for commitment in their states, as well as whether involuntary outpatient commitment is allowed in their states. A comparison of results with prior surveys of psychiatrists is provided, and policy implications are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosurgery
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
Surveys
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
The Stanford Prison Experiment