978 – Involuntary hospitalization in psychiatric hospitals of moscow

Abstract

The legislative framework for court-enforced hospitalization of mentally ill individuals was introduced to Russian legal system in 1992. The 29th Article of the Psychiatric Assistance and Civil Rights Act regulates it. The involuntary hospitalization is conducted when mentally ill individuals are at risk of harming themselves or others, unable to fulfill survival needs or are at risk for health and well being without psychiatric care. Objectives Of this study were to analyze the frequency of involuntary admission into psychiatric hospitals in Moscow through the Emergency Medical Service during a 2 -year period. As well as distinguish clinical, social and legal particularities associated with compulsory hospitalization. Methods The analysis of the database records of Psychiatric Department of the Station of Emergency Medical Service named after A.S. Puchkov for the period from July 2010 till June 2012. Results General population of Moscow city consists of 11,5 millions people. 200 thousands individuals receive psychiatric care. Every year about 42,000 mentally ill people get admitted to the psychiatric hospitals in Moscow through emergency medical service. Around 60% (25 000) of the patients went through involuntary hospitalization. 82% of them were due to the autoagressive or aggressive behavior, including suicidal behavior and suicide attempts. 18% of involuntary hospitalization happened due to the psychiatric helplessness and risk for the health and well being of an individual in case of absence of psychiatric help. The numbers of involuntary admission remained stable over the two-year period. The most common entry diagnoses were unspecified schizophrenia and delirium tremens.