[Documentation, Application and Efforts to Reduce Involuntary Admissions and Coercive Measures - Results from a...

This nationwide full census survey investigated the documentation status regarding involuntary admissions and coercive measures in psychiatric hospitals in Germany.

As part of the ZIPHER study, a questionnaire survey on the documentation, application and reduction of coercion was conducted (N = 147, response rate = 34.4 %).

The majority of participating hospitals reported a comprehensive documentation of the use of coercion. However, substantial regional differences could be found in this regard as well as for the use of guidelines. The involuntary admission quote was M = 13.4 % (± 10.9). Of those, 33.9 % (± 22.2) were affected by mechanical restraint, 8.9 % (± 17.2) by seclusion, and 11.8 % (± 18.0) by compulsory medication.

The regional differences plead for a unification of legal bases and applied practice as well as for a merge of respective data on a nationwide level of the relevant stakeholders.