[Negative emotions and understanding - patients' perspective on coercion]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Research

Context:

• Involuntary psychiatric admission and coercive measures are common in mental healthcare.
• Understanding patient experiences is crucial for improving treatment and reducing harm.
• Previous research has focused on the efficacy of interventions, with less emphasis on patient-reported emotional outcomes.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the emotions experienced by involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients during coercive measures.
• To explore the relationship between patient stability and their perception of coercion.
• To inform the development of more patient-centered mental healthcare strategies.

Summary:

• Interviews with 40 psychiatric patients, conducted approximately 3 weeks post-coercion, revealed that rage, anger, and despair were the most frequently reported emotions.
• Patients experiencing psychosis-related disorders constituted the majority (72%), with 21% having affective disorders.
• A significant portion (22.5%) were first-time hospital admissions.
• Patients assessed as more stable, based on the Clinical Global Impressions scale, reported more negative evaluations of the coercive experience.

Impact:

• Findings underscore the significant emotional distress associated with psychiatric coercion, particularly for more stable patients.
• Healthcare providers should acknowledge and address the potential suffering induced by involuntary admission and restraint.
• Integrating patient-reported emotional outcomes into treatment planning may improve therapeutic alliances and patient recovery trajectories.