Citation

Velázquez-Navarrete E, Gutiérrez-Rojas L. Rev. Esp. Med. Legal 2019; 45(4): 136-142.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Madrid Asociacion Nacional de Medicos Forenses, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.reml.2018.09.004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The number of hospital admissions related to suicide attempts is increasing. Involuntary treatment of psychiatric disorders has always been controversial, and this issue can be particularly sensitive in case of suicide behaviour. The aim of this study was to analyse variables associated with involuntary and voluntary legal status on admission of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in real practice.

METHOD: The MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) was administered to a group of patients (n=73) with suicide behaviour and different types of psychiatric admissions (voluntary and involuntary). Severity of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and intent, and insight level were also assessed. A discriminant analysis was used to determine the differences.

RESULTS: MacCAT total score and insight level were the best variables to discriminate both groups. Although the majority of admissions were adequately classified according to their decision-making capacity, our results show some discrepancies at hospital admission.

CONCLUSIONS: Although this situation can be partly due to mistakes of interpretations of legal criteria for involuntary psychiatric admission or an inappropriate assessment of capacity to consent, due to the complexity of suicidal behaviour, a review of the classic criteria will also need to be considered, in order to ensure adequate support and to propose appropriate assessment tools for psychiatric and forensic practitioners. © 2018 Asociación Nacional de Médicos Forenses

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; Decision making; Involuntary treatment; Hospital admission