Comparison of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of a) legally involuntarily admitted patients and b) of legally voluntarily admitted patients who feel coerced to admission across the EUNOMIA study sites

Background

Previous research has shown a specific profile of risk factors characterizing patients who are legally involuntarily admitted to psychiatric hospitals: younger age, diagnosis of psychotic disorder and/or mental retardation, manic symptoms, and male gender and/or non-Caucasian ethnicity.

Methods

The naturalistic and epidemiologically oriented EUNOMIA-study design in 13 sites in 12 European countries used a standardized battery of instruments (e.g. psychopathology, legal status, perceived coercion, satisfaction with treatment) to assess two groups of patients: legally involuntarily admitted patients and legally voluntarily admitted patients who feel coerced to admission. Uni- and multivariate analyses on the data are performed, and a logit-model for predicting involuntary hospital admission was developed.

Results

This presentation is based on 2,586 legally involuntary and 830 legally voluntary patients included in the study. General and site-specific differences between the two subgroups of patients focusing on the initial assessment within the first week after hospital admission covering their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, legal status, perceived coercion and satisfaction with treatment will be highlighted. Further, details of the statistical model predicting involuntary admission will be demonstrated.

Conclusion

Consequences for clinical practice of involuntary hospital admissions across Europe will be demonstrated.