Summary:
Introduction: Involuntary hospitalization is regulated by legislation which
differs among European countries. In the years 1990-2000, a reduction in the
number of psychiatric beds was combined with an increase in the number of
involuntary commitments and a tendency for shorter length of hospitalization
and more readmissions. Involuntary commitment implies more days in hospital and
risk of readmission. Patients tend to characterize it as non-useful or even
harmful.
Methods: In order to understand and explain a somewhat paradoxical phenomenon,
a search in electronic databases, in the years 2000-2012, was performed with
key words: involuntary hospitalization, epidemiology, clinical characteristics
and demographic characteristics.
Results: The observed tendency in involuntary hospitalization in the years
after 2000 is an increasing one. Men are over presented, the mean age of
patients is 40 years and the maximum rise in prevalence was detected in older
patients. Involuntarily committed patients tend to be single, widowed or
divorced, living alone, unemployed, without social insurance and lacking social
support. Ethnic minorities present with a greater risk of involuntary
commitment. The predominant diagnosis is schizophrenia and the most common
reason for admission is danger to self or others. The mean duration of
hospitalization is greater, treatment compliance is poor and there is a
frequent history of previous involuntary admission. A series of preventive
interventions has been applied with effectiveness that varies.
Conclusions: The continuing increase in the number of involuntary commitments
poses questions to be answered and makes necessary the further development of
preventive interventions.
Keywords:
Involuntary hospitalisation, Epidemiology, Clinical characteristics, Demographic characteristics
