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Outcome of Voluntary vs Involuntary Admissions in Greece over 2 years after Discharge: A Cohort Study in the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica “Dafni”

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Abstract

The increasing rates of involuntary hospitalization constitute a major ethical issue in psychiatric practice. The present cohort study endeavours to investigate the relationship between patients' legal status (involuntary vs voluntary) and the outcome of their hospitalization, over 2 years after discharge. All individuals admitted in the 3rd Psychiatric Department of the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica during February 2015-February 2017 took part in the study. 64.7% of patients were compulsory admitted. Findings indicate a statistically significant improvement in global functioning and symptomatology levels from admission to discharge for all treated patients, independently of their legal status. However, readmission rates over 2 years after discharge were high (34.8% vs. 21.9% in voluntary and involuntary patients, respectively). In conclusion, psychiatric admission, irrespectively of legal status leads to clinical improvement.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric Hospital of Attica “Dafni”, Athens, Greece

    Nektarios Drakonakis, Vassiliki Psarra & Ersi Tsopanaki

  2. Association for Regional Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY), Athens, Greece

    Stelios Stylianidis & Sofia Nikolaidi

  3. Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, Greece

    Nektarios Drakonakis, Stelios Stylianidis, Lily Evangelia Peppou, Charikleia Eirini Baladima & Georgia Olga Iatropoulou

  4. University Mental Health, Neurosciences and Precision Medicine Research Institute “Costas Stefanis”, Athens, Greece

    Lily Evangelia Peppou

  5. 2nd Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Athanasios Douzenis

  6. Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Centre for Health Services Research, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Chara Tzavara

  7. Laboratory of Epidemiology and Social Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche ‘Mario Negri’, Milan, Italy

    Angelo Barbato

  8. IRIS Postgraduate Psychotherapy School, Milan, Italy

    Angelo Barbato

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  1. Nektarios Drakonakis
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  2. Stelios Stylianidis
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  8. Georgia Olga Iatropoulou
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Correspondence to Nektarios Drakonakis.

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Ethical standards

The research protocol of the study was approved by the Hospital Board and the Ethics Committee of the Psychiatric Hospital of Athens. All procedures performed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments. All patients have signed informed consent forms prior to their inclusion in the study.

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Drakonakis, N., Stylianidis, S., Peppou, L.E. et al. Outcome of Voluntary vs Involuntary Admissions in Greece over 2 years after Discharge: A Cohort Study in the Psychiatric Hospital of Attica “Dafni”. Community Ment Health J 58, 633–644 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00865-y

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