How Alberta psychiatrists view commitment criteria and the problem of predicting dangerousness

Mental health legislation has been under review in many jurisdictions throughout North America and Europe. The thorniest issue to review, practically everywhere, has been that of commitment. The Mental Health Act of Alberta, only 10 years old, is now too in the process of being changed. To help in this process, and on the belief that very seldom psychiatrists as a group are questioned about their opinions on these matters, and yet they are the ones who have to apply the legislation at the practical end, a questionnaire was circulated among Alberta psychiatrists. It aimed at obtaining the psychiatrists' views on general matters regarding commitment, such as criteria and the appropriate length of commitment, and the degree of legal involvement desired on a commitment decision. The questionnaire also touched on local issues pertaining to the delivery of psychiatric services such as the designation of "facilities", etc. This paper presents the results as compiled from the replies given by eighty psychiatrists, a 63 percent of those contacted.