Involuntary psychiatric hospital treatment among 12- to 17-year-olds in Finland: A nationwide register study

Information on involuntary psychiatric hospital treatment of all 12- to 17- year-old miners in 1990 and 1993 in Finland was collected from the national hospital discharge register. Involuntary treatment was associated with old er age, psychosis diagnosis, and treatment in adult psychiatric ward. Treat ment year, sex, and having previous psychiatric hospital treatment were not associated with involuntary treatment. Considerable differences were found when different health care districts were compared. In 12 of 22 districts there were no miners in involuntary treatment in 1993. For ethical and lega l reasons the involuntary treatment of miners in adult settings can hardly be justified.