Citation

van Voren R. BJPsych Bull 2016; 40(1): 30-33.

Affiliation

Human Rights in Mental Health-Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Royal College of Psychiatrists)

DOI

10.1192/pb.bp.114.049494

PMID

26958357

PMCID

PMC4768845

Abstract

The number of reports of political activists falling victim to the political abuse of psychiatry is increasing. When the USSR first disintegrated, this practice virtually ceased to occur. What came in its place, however, was a disturbing collection of other forms of abuses, including human rights abuses, caused by a lack of resources, outdated treatment methods, a lack of understanding of individual human rights and a growing lack of tolerance in society. The number of cases of political abuse of psychiatry has increased since the 21st century began, particularly over the past few years in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Language: en