German mental health legislation and alcoholism treatment: results of a retrospective long-term study in a Berlin state mental health hospital

Abstract

In 1985 German mental health legislation underwent a transformation. In accordance with an international trend, the State of Berlin, a pacesetter in this field, introduced a Law for Mentally Diseased Patients ( Gesetz für psychisch Kranke). In contrast to the former Law for the Committal of the Mentally Ill and Substance Abusers ( Gesetz über die Unterbringung von Geisteskranken und Süchtigen) healing and recovery are the main aims which the legislation focuses on with the intention of avoiding committal by excluding patients with mild disorders from involuntary admission. The Karl-Bonhoeffer-Mental-Health Hospital's Department for Dependency Disorders conducted a study on 3014 alcohol-dependent patients who were discharged between 1984–1990. The focus of the study was to determine predictors for involuntarily committal; patients were explored in respect to age, sex, length of stay, psychiatric disorders, their living situation and how they had been admitted. Moreover, attempts were made to discover whether the 1985 law had changed the patient profile or the frequency or length of treatment in comparison to the previously valid law.