The development of new psychiatric legislation in Sweden

The development of Swedish psychiatric legislation is summarized, from the law that came into force on 1 January 1967 to the new law promulgated on 1 January 1992. There are now separate laws for (a) patients who are seriously mentally disturbed and urgently in need of psychiatric hospital care; who oppose care or evidently lack capacity to express a well-grounded opinion as to their needs; and (b) patients sentenced by court to forensic psychiatric care, who have to be seriously mentally disturbed but need not oppose care. As earlier, it seems to be possible to take care of them in general psychiatric wards but special wards for forensic psychiatric care are anticipated. Sweden so far has few such facilities.