Satisfaction with services following voluntary and involuntary admission

Service user perspectives are essential for the evaluation and development of mental health services. Service users expressing less satisfaction with services subsequently have poorer treatment outcomes.

To measure satisfaction with services following psychiatric admission, and to explore its relationship with a number of clinical and service factors.

A multi-centre observational study was conducted across three mental health services in Ireland. Service users were interviewed and provided with self-report questionnaires. The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) was used to measure treatment satisfaction.

The overall level of satisfaction with services was good (CSQ-8 mean score 24.5). Service users who were admitted involuntarily, who experienced physical coercion and lower levels of procedural justice were less satisfied. A better therapeutic relationship, improved insight and better functioning were associated with higher levels of treatment satisfaction.

Mental health services should implement strategies to ameliorate the effects of factors associated with lower levels of treatment satisfaction.