PATIENT, FAMILY, AND STAFF PERCEPTIONS OF COERCION IN MENTAL-HOSPITALADMISSION - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY

Little is known about the coercive pressures brought to bear on psychi atric patients in the hospitalization process. Significant methodologi cal hurdles stand in the way of this research. Most notably, reliable and valid methods of ascertaining and quantifying perceptions of coerc ion have not been developed. This report summarizes the findings of an exploratory study designed to gather data needed to refine the concep tualization and measurement of coercion. Multiple perspectives on admi ssion incidents for forty-three patients (26% of whom were involuntari ly hospitalized) were obtained. Patients were administered research in terviews and completed a self-administered inventory shortly after the admission decision. The admitting clinician and a family member invol ved in the admission were administered parallel interviews. In additio n, focus groups comprised of outpatients, former patients, family memb ers, and clinical staff were conducted to uncover the terminology and description of coercion commonly used. The implications of these preli minary quantitative and qualitative findings for future research are d iscussed