Compulsory admissions: Possibly another dark side of the Greek economic crisis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychiatry
• Socioeconomics

Background:

• Previous research indicates the Greek economic crisis negatively impacted public health.
• Increased prevalence of major depression, suicide, and homicide rates were noted.
• Mentally ill individuals are a vulnerable social group facing difficulties during economic downturns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the Greek economic crisis on psychiatric care.
• To quantify changes in compulsory assessments and involuntary admissions between 2006 and 2013.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patient records from the Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Patras.
• Data collection focused on compulsory assessments and involuntary admissions from 2006 to 2013.

Main Results:

• Compulsory psychiatric assessments increased by 48.86% in 2009 and 101.13% in 2013.
• Involuntary admissions rose by 63.75% from 2006 to 2013.
• These increases occurred during the period of the Greek economic crisis.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests a potential link between the Greek economic crisis and increased involuntary psychiatric placements.
• While other factors may contribute, the crisis appears to be a significant underlying cause.
• This represents a less evident, yet critical, public health consequence of the economic crisis.