Impact of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UN-CRPD) on mental health care research - a systematic review.

Christoph Steinert,Susanne Jaeger,Tilman Steinert,Erich Flammer

doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0862-1

Abstract

BackgroundThe United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) aims at stimulating profound changes and social development in many areas of the society. We wanted to examine the impact of the convention on mental health care research up to now by a systematic review.MethodsWe searched relevant electronic databases for empirical studies from the area of mental health which focused directly on the content of the UN-CRPD.ResultsOne thousand six hundred ten articles were screened, 36 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria and came from 22 different countries. 25 studies (69 %) are related to persons with intellectual disabilities, only 11 to other mental disorders. Study designs were quantitative and qualitative as well. Issues were realisation of the UN-CRPD, implementation and financing, development of instruments, and attitudes towards the UN-CRPD.ConclusionsIn contrast to possible wide-reaching consequences for the organisation of mental health care, theoretical debates prevail as of yet and empirical research is still scarce. Research on the UN-CRPD is more advanced for intellectual disabilities and provides good suggestions for relevant research aspects in major mental disorders.

Highlights

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) aims at stimulating profound changes and social development in many areas of the society
Intellectual disabilities fall into the definition of mental disorders as classified in the ICD-10, chapter F (F 7) and fulfilled our inclusion criteria, but in most countries service provision and care is separate from other mental disorders
There is urgent need for further research in all areas covered by the UN-CRPD relating to mental disorders

Summary

Introduction

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD) aims at stimulating profound changes and social development in many areas of the society. Guiding principles are respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own Steinert et al BMC Psychiatry (2016) 16:166 punishment of the UN Human Rights Council claimed to abolish all kind of coercive treatment as well as substituted decision-making legislations such as guardianship [4] This has caused considerable concern among psychiatric organisations and stimulated ongoing controversies between psychiatrists and patients’ organisations in some countries [5]. The UN-CRPD aims at stimulating profound changes and social development in many areas of the society such as schools, workplace environment and public transportation On this behalf, the convention calls for data gathering and research in the signatory states. Taking into account this and the huge political relevance of the UN-CRPD, we wanted to examine the impact of the convention on mental health research up to now by a systematic review

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion