Perceived coercion in persons with mental disorder in India: A cross-sectional study

Little is known about how patients in India perceive coercion in psychiatric care.

To assess perceived coercion in persons with mental disorder admitted involuntarily and correlate with sociodemographic factors and illness variables.

We administered the short MacArthur Admission Experience Interview Questionnaire to all consecutive involuntary psychiatric patients admitted in 2014 in Mysore, India. Multivariate linear regression was used.

Three hundred and one patients participated. "Perceived coercion" subscale scores increased with female gender, nuclear family status, Muslim and Christian religion, lower income, and depressive disorder. It decreased with former coercion, forensic history, and longer illness duration. Drug use increased total scores; the extended family item decreased them. "Negative pressure" increased with male gender, extended family, lower income, forensic history, and longer illness duration.

The study shows perceived coercion is a reality in India. Levels of perceived coercion and the populations affected are similar to high-income countries.