The Nordic comparative study on sectorized psychiatry: rates of compulsory care and use of compulsory admissions during a 1-year follow-up

• Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 99 - 104
• Main Authors: Hansson, L., Muus, S., Saarento, O., Vinding, H. R., Göstas, G., Sandlund, M., Zandrén, T., Öiesvold, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Science and Business Media LLC 01.03.1999; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Finland; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental health; Mental Health Services; Mental Health Services - utilization; Middle Aged; Organization of mental health. Health systems; Patient Admission; Patients; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychosis; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Time Factors; Scandinavia; Europe; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; Finland; Human; Follow up study; Geographical district psychiatry; Use; Mental health; Mental disorder; Health service; Public health
• ISSN: 0933-7954; 1433-9285; 1433-9285
• DOI: 10.1007/s001270050118

As part of a Nordic comparative study on contact rates of new patients and use of services in seven catchment areas, rates of compulsory care and use of compulsory admissions were explored and analyzed. The total cohort comprised 2834 patients. A total of 219 patients, 7.7%, were subject to compulsory care during the follow-up. The proportion of compulsorily admitted patients of all admitted patients ranged from 6% to 58% in the seven psychiatric services, and the rate of compulsory care per 1,000 inhabitants, from 0.14 to 0.99. The diagnostic subgroup most commonly committed to inpatient care was functional psychosis, comprising around 50% of all compulsory admissions. The strongest predictor of being compulsorily admitted was the specific psychiatric service the patient was in contact with, followed by having a psychosis diagnosis. High consumption of care was also associated with compulsory care, while social variables played only a minor role in predicting compulsory care. There was a great variation in rates of compulsory care. No consistent rural-urban pattern in rates of commitment was found. It is discussed whether a formal referral procedure to the psychiatric service is associated with higher rates of compulsory care.