Citation

Olumoroti OJ, Kassim A, Hotopf M. J. Ment. Health 2007; 16(4): 521-528.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa Healthcare)

DOI

10.1080/09638230701482337

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The assessment of mental capacity in patients who have self harmed is often difficult. Contextual factors may influence judgements on mental capacity. Aims: To determine the proportion of consultant psychiatrists who judge a self harming patient described in a vignette likely to have mental capacity, and to test the hypothesis that judgements are influenced by contextual factors which should not necessarily influence mental capacity.

METHOD: Four hundred and four consultant psychiatrists were randomized to receive one of four vignettes describing a woman who took a serious paracetamol overdose and required liver transplantation.

RESULTS: Seventy percent of questionnaires were returned. Forty-nine percent of participants thought that the patient lacked mental capacity. There was no statistically significant effect of vignette on judgement of mental capacity (p =.4). Psychiatric speciality of the participants influenced capacity judgements (p =.06), with old age psychiatrists being least likely to judge her as lacking capacity (36%) and psychotherapists being most likely to do so (80%).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that clinicians' assessments of capacity are not greatly influenced by context, but that psychiatric speciality has some impact. Declaration of interest: None. © Shadowfax Publishing and Informa UK Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; Suicide; Decision making; female; male; decision making; Treatment; Assessment; liver transplantation; drug overdose; Mental disorder; article; controlled study; questionnaire; normal human; psychiatrist; mental capacity; mental deficiency; analytic method; vignette; Consent; Mental capacity