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Involuntary commitment and detainment in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate whether adolescents committed to psychiatric inpatient care are the most disturbed, and whether psychosocial factors other than psychiatric symptoms are associated with commitment to and detainment in psychiatric care among adolescents.

Materials and methods

The case histories of 187 13- to 17-year-old adolescents consecutively admitted to the study clinic were scrutinized with the help of a structured data collection form. Psychiatric, demographic and family-related characteristics of those referred involuntarily (n = 93) and voluntarily (n = 94), and those detained involuntarily (n = 42) and treated on a voluntary basis (n = 145) were compared.

Results

Involuntary referral and involuntary detainment were associated with psychotic symptoms, temper tantrums and breaking property, involuntary referral also with violent and hostile behaviours and suicidal ideation and talk. They were not associated to family adversities, previous treatment history or sociodemographic factors. The risk for being committed when presenting with aggressive behaviours was greater in girls.

Conclusion

Involuntary referral and detainment in adolescents is associated with symptom severity, and not with aspects of the adolescent’s living conditions. This is in agreement with the legislation. Gender bias resulting in girls’ greater risk of being involuntarily committed if displaying aggressive behaviours may be an ethical and legal problem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, 33380, Pitkäniemi, Finland

    Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino

  2. Medical School, University of Tampere, 30014, Tampere, Finland

    Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino

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  1. Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino
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Correspondence to Riittakerttu Kaltiala-Heino.

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Kaltiala-Heino, R. Involuntary commitment and detainment in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 45, 785–793 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0116-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0116-3

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