Coercion in psychiatric care: clinical, legal, and ethical controversies

Abstract

Despite a long-standing tradition of the use of coercion in psychiatric care, such as involuntary admission and treatment, few have systematically addressed this issue. In recent years, more research has been carried out, suggesting that the use of coercion has important and complex legal, ethical, and clinical implications. In the present article, types and rates of coercion are presented and central topics including competency, ethics, and the reasons given for the use of coercion, are critically discussed.

• Psychiatry
• coercion
• involuntary admission
• involuntary treatment
• competency
• ethics