Morbidity and mortality of certified adolescent psychiatric patients

Recent legislation has placed greater restrictions on the involuntary hospitalization and treatment of psychiatric patients. A follow-up study was done on adolescent psychiatric patients who were certified during their hospital stay. The rate of certification was 8.5%. Their functioning was compared with that of a control group of voluntarily admitted adolescents. The two main reasons for certification were suicidal behaviour and psychotic symptoms. The majority of patients required further hospital treatment during the five year period after discharge. Few patients were found to be functioning in a successful independent fashion at the time of follow-up and certified patients required much more long-term social assistance. Five patients (22% of those certified) committed suicide and the combination of personality disorder and major depression was of particular importance in predicting suicide.