To certify or not to certify: clinical social work decisions and involuntary hospitalization

This research compares, on a variety of clinical and contextual factors, case episodes in which Clinical Social Workers decided to certify patients for involuntary hospitalization with those episodes where they decided not to certify them. A cross-sectional exploratory design was developed, and descriptive data was collected using a modified critical incident technique and a structured interview schedule. Among certified cases, the dangerousness of the patient was the major reason for certification, especially dangerousness to others. Lack of dangerousness to others and use of alternatives to involuntary hospitalization were major factors in the decision not to certify. Schizophrenic disorders were most frequently identified in certified patients; depressive and neurotic conditions in non-certified cases.