[Attitudes Toward Coercive Measures in Psychiatry: Indicators of Polarized Attitudes from a Representative German...

Attitudes Toward Coercive Measures in Psychiatry: Indicators of Polarized Attitudes from a Representative German Sample Abstract: Objective: This study examined the attitudes of the German general population toward physical restraint (PR) and chemical restraint (CR) used in psychiatric settings to protect against self-endangerment and endangerment of others. Method: We analyzed attitudes toward coercive measures (CM) in a representative German sample (N = 2.485), exploring their distribution and association with sociodemographic factors using chi² tests and multinomial logistic regressions. Results: Two-thirds of subjects indicated acceptance of CR, whereas only 6 % approved PR. Rejection of CM was more common in people from West Germany (χ²(3) = 33.396, adj p < .001, φ = .116), rural areas (χ²(3) = 14.065, adj p = .018, φ = .057), and among individuals associated with right-wing political parties (χ²(3) = 17.602, adj p = .008, φ = .105). Conclusions: 67 % of the sample accept coercive medication, while a quarter reject it, which illustrates the heterogeneity of attitudes and the need for more information and education. Despite the political tendency toward more coercive elements in psychiatric treatment, this contradicts the professional discourse, which is why a public survey could be useful in sharpening professional policy positions.