Abstract
BackgroundThe MacArthur Admission Experience Survey (AES) is a widely used tool to evaluate the level of perceived coercion experienced at psychiatric hospital admission. The French-language AES was prepared using a translation/back-translation procedure. It consists of 16 items and 3 subscores (perceived coercion, negative pressures and voice). This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the French-language AES.Methods152 inpatients were evaluated. Reliability was estimated using internal consistency coefficients and a test–retest procedure. Internal validity was assessed using a two-parameter logistic item response model. Convergent validity was estimated using correlations between the AES scores and the Coercion Ladder (CL), the Coercion Experience Scale (CES) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Discriminatory power was evaluated by comparing the scores of patients undergoing voluntary or compulsory admission.ResultsThe French-language AES showed good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Internal validity of the three-factor model was excellent. Correlations between AES and CL, CES and GAF scores suggested good convergent validity. AES scores were significantly higher among patients subject to compulsory psychiatric hospital admission than among those admitted voluntarily.ConclusionsOverall, the French-language version of the AES demonstrated very good psychometric proprieties.
Highlights
The MacArthur Admission Experience Survey (AES) is a widely used tool to evaluate the level of perceived coercion experienced at psychiatric hospital admission
In 1793, Philippe Pinel advocated freeing people with mental disorders from their chains and giving them back their dignity. Despite his desire to make psychiatric treatment more humane, he could not get rid of coerced institutionalisation and, ten years later, he was to recommend the use of the straitjacket as a new form of treatment
Perceived coercion is not exclusively related to formal coercive measures or the patient’s legal status at admission [9]; it depends on the amount of information shared with the patient, participation in medical decision-making and a lack of knowledge about legal issues
Summary
The MacArthur Admission Experience Survey (AES) is a widely used tool to evaluate the level of perceived coercion experienced at psychiatric hospital admission. Perceived coercion is not exclusively related to formal coercive measures or the patient’s legal status at admission [9]; it depends on the amount of information shared with the patient, participation in medical decision-making and a lack of knowledge about legal issues. Informal coercion, such as leverage, can influence the level of perceived coercion [10]. The long-term impact of high levels of perceived coercion on patients is controversial and needs further evaluation [17]
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