Citation

Beine KH. Nervenarzt, Der 2019; 90(7): 675-679.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00115-019-0715-5

PMID

31016329

Abstract

Patients who are committed against their natural will are regularly accommodated in closed wards in Germany. Only a few clinics treat patients who have been involuntarily committed on open wards. On the basis of own clinical experience and relevant study results, closed and open wards are compared with respect to the extent of aggression and coercive measures, the risks of absconding and suicide. Compared to open wards, closed wards are unlikely to reduce the risk of absconding, do not result in a decreased suicide rate and do not result in a reduction of aggressive behavior. In contrast, coercive measures seem to be practiced more frequently in closed wards. Therefore, the regular practice of accommodation in closed wards should be revised.

Language: de

Keywords

Humans; Suicide; Germany; Psychiatry; Aggression; Coercion; Mental Disorders; Security; Patient Isolation; Closed wards; Open wards