Coercive measures such as involuntary psychiatric admission are considered a last resort in the treatment of people with psychiatric disorders. So far, numerous factors have been identified that influence their use. However, the link between a pandemic – in particular, restrictions such as lockdowns – and the use of involuntary psychiatric admission is unclear.

To examine the association between COVID-19 lockdowns and involuntary psychiatric admissions in Austria.

This retrospective exploratory study assessed all involuntary psychiatric admissions and use of mechanical restraint in Austria, except for the federal state of Vorarlberg, between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020. Descriptive statistics and regression models were used.

During the 3-year study period, 40 012 individuals (45.9% females, mean age 51.3 years) had 66 124 involuntary psychiatric admissions for an average of 10.9 days. Mechanical restraint was used during 33.9% of these admissions. In weeks of nationwide COVID-19 lockdowns (2020 v. 2018/2019), involuntary psychiatric admissions were significantly fewer (odds ratio = 0.93, P = 0.0001) but longer (11.6 (s.d.: 16) v. 10.9 (s.d.: 15.8) days). The likelihood of involuntary admission during lockdowns was associated with year (2020 v. 2018–2019; adjusted odds ratio = 0.92; P = 0.0002) but not with sex (P = 0.814), age (P = 0.310), use of mechanical restraint (P = 0.653) or type of ward (P = 0.843).

Restrictions such as lockdowns affect coercive measures and resulted in fewer but longer involuntary psychiatric admissions during weeks of lockdown in Austria. These results strengthen previous findings that showed the dependence of coercive measures on external factors, highlighting the need to further clarify causality and desired prevention effects when using coercive measures.

This paper explores factors linking gender with increased perceived coercion, perceived negative pressures and procedural injustice during psychiatric admission.

We used validated tools to perform detailed assessments of 107 adult psychiatry inpatients admitted to acute psychiatry admission units at two general hospitals in Dublin, Ireland, between September 2017 and February 2020.

Among female inpatients (n = 48), perceived coercion on admission was associated with younger age and involuntary status; perceived negative pressures were associated with younger age, involuntary status, seclusion, and positive symptoms of schizophrenia; and procedural injustice was associated with younger age, involuntary status, fewer negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and cognitive impairment. Among females, restraint was not associated with perceived coercion on admission, perceived negative pressures, procedural injustice, or negative affective reactions to hospitalisation; seclusion was associated with negative pressures only. Among male inpatients (n = 59), not being born in Ireland appeared more relevant than age, and neither restraint nor seclusion were associated with perceived coercion on admission, perceived negative pressures, procedural injustice, or negative affective reactions to hospitalisation.

Factors other than formal coercive practices are primarily linked with perceived coercion. Among female inpatients, these include younger age, involuntary status, and positive symptoms. Among males, not being born in Ireland appears more relevant than age. Further research is needed on these correlations, along with gender-aware interventions to minimise coercive practices and their consequences among all patients.

No significant relationships.

Involuntary admissions are increasing in numbers across Europe.1 They can be traumatic for the patients2 and are associated with large societal costs.3 Individuals with psychotic disorder are at particularly elevated risk of involuntary admission.

This study aims to investigate whether machine learning methods including natural language processing can predict involuntary admission among patients with psychotic disorder.

We have obtained a dataset based on electronic health records for all patients having had at least one contact with the psychiatric services in the Central Denmark Region from 2011 to 2021. This dataset covers more than 120,000 patients, of which approximately 10,000 have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. The dataset contains both structured data, such as diagnoses, blood tests etc., as well as unstructured data (text). We will train machine learning models, basic logistic regression-models as well as state-of-the-art neural networks, to predict involuntary admission after contacts to the psychiatric services.

As the machine learning models are under development, no results are available at this time. Preliminary results are expected in spring 2022.

If involuntary admission can be predicted among patients with psychotic disorder based on data from electronic health records, it will pave the way for potentially preventive interventions. References: 1. Sheridans-Rains, L et al., 2019 2. Frueh, B.C et al., 2005 3. Smith,S., 2020

No significant relationships.

No significant relationships.

Schedule II of the 2013 Mental Health Act is part of the legal framework for involuntary admission to a licensed mental healthcare facility in Malta (Mount Carmel Hospital) for observation.

To identify trends in presenting features cited by registered specialists in psychiatry in Schedule II applications as well as impact of time of day on involuntary admission.

Schedule II forms relating to all involuntary admissions to Mount Carmel Hospital between 01 June 2018 and 01 June 2019 were retrieved from paper files (n=364). Details relating to reason for using this legal framework were recorded and processed through custom linguistic analysis. Timings of application were also assessed. Data Protection permissions to retrospectively access patient files were obtained. All data collected was de-identified at source.

The commonest reason for use of Schedule II was psychosis (n=139). Substance abuse was recorded in 68 cases, with alcohol and cannabinoids the commonest substances cited. 155 instances relate to situations of increased risk, the commonest being aggressive behaviour (n=74). 61 cases recorded suicidal intent. Peak use of this schedule occurs between 17:00 and 18:00, which is outside normal working hours.

Predominance of psychosis as a reason for involuntary admission concurs with trends reported internationally, including recent German, Irish and Dutch reports, as does increased use of involuntary admission with out-of-hours presentations. Practices relating to involuntary admission to a mental healthcare facility in Malta appear to reflect general trends in other European cohorts, despite differing legal frameworks.

Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care.

The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions.

We analyzed the survey categorical data in themes, which highlight that both medical and legal actors are involved in involuntary admission procedures.

We conclude that legal reasons for compulsory admission should be reworded in order to remove stigmatization of the patient, that raising awareness about involuntary admission procedures and patient rights with both patients and family advocacy groups is paramount, that communication about procedures should be widely available in lay-language for the general population, and that training sessions and guidance should be available for legal and medical practitioners. Finally, people working in the field need to be constantly aware about the ethical challenges surrounding compulsory admissions.

Carers are key providers of care and support to mental health patients and mental health policies consistently mandate carer involvement. Understanding carers' experiences of and views about assessment for involuntary admission and subsequent detention is crucial to efforts to improve policy and practice.

We aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence of carers' experiences of the assessment and detention of their family and friends under mental health legislation.

We searched five bibliographic databases, reference lists and citations. Studies were included if they collected data using qualitative methods and the patients were aged 18 or older; reported on carer experiences of assessment or detention under mental health legislation anywhere in the world; and were published in peer-reviewed journals. We used meta-synthesis.

The review included 23 papers. Themes were consistent across time and setting and related to the emotional impact of detention; the availability of support for carers; the extent to which carers felt involved in decision-making; relationships with patients and staff during detention; and the quality of care provided to patients. Carers often described conflicting feelings of relief coupled with distress and anxiety about how the patient might cope and respond. Carers also spoke about the need for timely and accessible information, supportive and trusting relationships with mental health professionals, and of involvement as partners in care.

Research is needed to explore whether and how health service and other interventions can improve the involvement and support of carers prior to, during and after the detention of family members and friends.

Involuntary admission (IA) for psychiatric treatment has a history of controversial discussions. We aimed to describe characteristics of a cohort of involuntarily compared to voluntarily admitted patients regarding clinical and socio-demographic characteristics before and after implementation of the new legislation.

In this observational cohort study, routine data of 15’125 patients who were admitted to the University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich between 2008 and 2016 were analyzed using a series of generalized estimating equations.

At least one IA occurred in 4’560 patients (30.1%). Of the 31’508 admissions 8’843 (28.1%) were involuntary. In the final multivariable model, being a tourist (OR = 3.5) or an asylum seeker (OR = 2.3), having a schizophrenic disorder (OR = 2.1), or a bipolar disorder (OR = 1.8) contributed most to our model. Male gender, higher age, prescription of neuroleptics (all OR < 2.0) as well as having a depressive disorder, prescription of psychotherapy, prescription of antidepressants and admission after implementation of the new legislation (all OR > 0.6) were also weakly associated with IA.

Besides schizophrenic or bipolar disorders, a small group of patients had an increased risk for IA due to non-clinical parameters (i.e. tourists and asylum seekers). Knowledge about risk factors should be used for the development of multi-level strategies to prevent frequent (involuntary) hospitalizations in patients at risk. On the organizational level, we could show that the new legislation decreased the risk for IA, and therefore may have succeeded in strengthening patient autonomy.

Understanding patient experiences of detention under mental health legislation is crucial to efforts to reform policy and practice.

To synthesise qualitative evidence on patients' experiences of assessment and detention under mental health legislation.

Five bibliographic databases were searched, supplemented by reference list screening and citation tracking. Studies were included if they reported on patient experiences of assessment or detention under mental health legislation; reported on patients aged 18 years or older; collected data using qualitative methods; and were reported in peer-reviewed journals. Findings were analysed and synthesised using thematic synthesis.

The review included 56 papers. Themes were generally consistent across studies and related to information and involvement in care, the environment and relationships with staff, as well as the impact of detention on feelings of self-worth and emotional state. The emotional impact of detention and views of its appropriateness varied, but a frequent theme was fear and distress during detention, including in relation to the use of force and restraint. Where staff were perceived as striving to form caring and collaborative relationships with patients despite the coercive nature of treatment, and when clear information was delivered, the negative impact of involuntary care seemed to be reduced.

Findings suggest that involuntary in-patient care is often frightening and distressing, but certain factors were identified that can help reduce negative experiences. Coproduction models may be fruitful in developing new ways of working on in-patient wards that provide more voice to patients and staff, and physical and social environments that are more conducive to recovery.

None.

Involuntary admission can be traumatic and is associated with negative attitudes that persist after the episode of illness has abated.

We aimed to prospectively assess satisfaction with care at the points of involuntary admission and symptomatic recovery, and identify their sociodemographic, clinical and service experience predictors.

Levels of satisfaction with care, and clinical and sociodemographic variables were obtained from a representative cohort of 263 patients at the point of involuntary admission and from 155 of these patients 3 months after termination of the involuntary admission. Data were analysed with multiple linear regression modelling.

Higher baseline awareness of illness (B = 0.19, P < 0.001) and older age (B = 0.05, P = 0.001) were associated with more satisfaction with care at baseline and follow-up. Transition to greater satisfaction with care was associated with improvements in awareness of illness (B = 0.13, P < 0.001) and in symptoms (B = 0.05, P = 0.02), as well as older age (B = 0.04, P = 0.01). Objective coercive experiences were not associated with variation in satisfaction with care.

There is wide variation in satisfaction with coercive care. Greater satisfaction with care is positively associated with clinical variables such as increased awareness of illness.

None.

A theoretical model of individuals' experiences before, during and after involuntary admission has not yet been established.

To develop an understanding of individuals' experiences over the course of the involuntary admission process.

Fifty individuals were recruited through purposive and theoretical sampling and interviewed 3 months after their involuntary admission. Analyses were conducted using a Straussian grounded theory approach.

The ‘theory of preserving control’ (ToPC) emerged from individuals' accounts of how they adapted to the experience of involuntary admission. The ToPC explains how individuals manage to reclaim control over their emotional, personal and social lives and consists of three categories: ‘losing control’, ‘regaining control’ and ‘maintaining control’, and a number of related subcategories.

Involuntary admission triggers a multifaceted process of control preservation. Clinicians need to develop therapeutic approaches that enable individuals to regain and maintain control over the course of their involuntary admission.

None.

There is a need for interventions that effectively reduce compulsory admission to psychiatry. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to investigate whether an innovative intervention programme prevents compulsory re-admission in people with serious mental illness.

The programme addresses primarily patients’ self-management skills. It consists of individualised psychoeducation focusing on behaviours prior to and during illness-related crises, crisis cards and, after discharge from the psychiatric hospital, a 24-month preventive monitoring. A total of 238 inpatients with compulsory admission(s) in the past were randomised to the intervention group or to treatment as usual (TAU).

Fewer participants who completed the 24-month programme were compulsorily readmitted to psychiatry (28%), compared with those receiving TAU (43%). Likewise, the number of compulsory readmissions per patient was significantly lower (0.6 v. 1.0) and involuntary episodes were shorter (15 v. 31 days), compared with TAU. A negative binomial regression model showed a significant intervention effect (RR 0.6; 95% confidence interval 0.3–0.9); further factors linked to the risk of compulsory readmission were the number of compulsory admissions in the patient's history (RR 2.8), the diagnosis of a personality disorder (RR 2.8), or a psychotic disorder (RR 1.9). Dropouts (37% intervention group; 22% TAU) were characterised by a high number of compulsory admissions prior to the trial, younger age and foreign nationality.

This study suggests that this intervention is a feasible and valuable option to prevent compulsory re-hospitalisation in a high-risk group of people with severe mental health problems, social disabilities, and a history of hospitalisations.

To explore the mental health tribunal experiences of people admitted involuntarily under the Mental Health Act 2001.

Employing a qualitative descriptive study design, data were collected from 23 service users who had experienced mental health tribunals during a recent involuntary admission. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted ~3 months post-revocation of their involuntary admission order. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic process.

The majority of participants reported mixed experiences comprising positive and negative aspects in relation to information provision, emotional support and an inclusive atmosphere. Some participants reported receiving accessible information about the tribunal process, felt emotionally supported throughout, and encountered respectful and dignifying practices during the tribunal proceedings. However, many participants described experiencing non-inclusive practices, reported feeling ill-informed regarding the tribunal process, emotionally unsupported during and after the tribunal, and distressed by what they perceived as adversarial tribunal proceedings.

Systemic changes could ensure that the positive experiences encountered by the minority of participants in this study are more consistently experienced. Ongoing education and training of stakeholders in the provision of inclusive tribunal practices, and the provision of accessible information and emotional support to service users through the stages of the involuntary admission process appear likely to be beneficial. Service users should automatically be offered the option of having a support person of their choosing present during tribunals.

International figures for involuntary admissions vary widely. Differences in legislation, professionals’ ethics and public attitudes towards risk have been known to influence this rate. Comparing involuntary admission rates in different parts of the same country can help control for variability found between international studies. This study assessed the rates of involuntary admissions in the Dublin South West Mental Health Service compared with the rest of Ireland.

We examined the demographic and clinical profiles of all involuntary patients admitted to the acute psychiatric inpatient unit in Tallaght Hospital between 2007 and 2011. We compared the rate of admission in Tallaght with the rest of Ireland. Data gathered included all patients detained on Form 6 and Form 13 (change of status) looking at age, gender, diagnosis and number of patients who had a Mental Health Tribunal. Form 7 (renewal orders) was also examined

We calculated the rate per 100 000 population per year of Form 6 admissions, Form 13 and Form 7 (certificate and renewal order by responsible consultant psychiatrist) using figures from the 2006 Census. All data were analysed using SPSS.

The rate of involuntary admission in Tallaght Hospital was significantly lower compared with the rest of Ireland (Form 6: t=−11.2; p<0.001, Form 13: t=−3.1; p=0.04, Form 7: t=−13.9; p=0.001). This difference was evident for all methods of involuntary detention and was also the case for Form 7 (renewal orders). Mental Health Tribunals were held for 59% of patients, a rate comparable with earlier findings described in publications, following the introduction of the new Mental Health Act.

Rates per 100 000 population were lower in Dublin South West compared with the rest of Ireland. The reasons for this are not clear. Further research comparing similar services in Ireland could explain these findings.

The first aim of this study is to compare involuntary admissions across the Veneto Region in Italy. The second aim is to explore the relation between mental health services provision, characteristics of population, individual factors and involuntary admissions.

For 21 Mental Health Departments (MHDs) in the Veneto Region (Italy), the average population prevalence rate of involuntary admissions between 2000 and 2007 and the percentage of involuntary admissions were calculated. Chi-square tests for equality of proportions were used to test hypotheses. Variables at the individual, contextual and organisational levels were used in multiple regressions, with the involuntary admission data as dependent variables.

The average prevalence rate of involuntary commitment was 12.75 ranging from 1.96 to 27.59 across MHDs . About 75% of the involuntary admissions referred to psychotic patients, and almost half of patients were aged 25–44. Significant differences among MHDs emerged; higher percentages of involuntary admissions were generally found in densely populated areas. Higher ageing indices and rates of social workers were found as predictors of the prevalence rate. In the multilevel regression, being males and psychotic significantly increased involuntary admissions, while the percentage of singles in population decreased it.

This study contributes to define the specific contribution of each factor predicting the use of involuntary admission, even within areas under the same legislation. It shows how the inclusion of both individual and contextual factors may lead to better predictions and provides precious data for the services improvement.