Related Experiment Videos
[Commitment of the mentally ill]
1Institut for psykiatrisk demografi, Psykiatrisk Hospital i Arhus.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|October 1, 1990
Summary
This study found a low prevalence of involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients in Denmark. Many patients, particularly those with schizophrenia, were in closed departments, highlighting the need for supportive institutional environments.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Legal Medicine
Context:
- Cross-sectional study conducted in Denmark on June 1, 1989.
- Involves psychiatric patients committed or compulsorily detained under Danish legislation.
- Data collected from departments admitting committed patients over the preceding five years.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of involuntarily admitted or compulsorily detained psychiatric patients.
- To analyze patient demographics, admission types, and departmental placement.
- To compare Danish prevalence rates with those in Norway and Sweden.
Summary:
- A total of 275 involuntarily admitted or compulsorily detained patients were identified.
- Nearly 60% of these patients were housed in closed departments.
- Schizophrenia was diagnosed in almost half of the patients; 28.8% were voluntarily admitted but compulsorily detained.
- Compulsory detentions were notified to the Ministry of Justice in 34.4% of cases.
- While half were admitted for less than 2.5 months, 10% had been hospitalized for over ten years.
Impact:
- Reveals a lower prevalence of compulsory psychiatric detention in Denmark compared to Scandinavian neighbors.
- Underscores the long-term hospitalization of a significant minority, emphasizing the need for improved institutional environments.
- Provides data on patient characteristics and legal statuses within psychiatric care settings.