Psychologists and coercion: Decisions regarding involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment in a group of Norwegian psychologists

Abstract

Following the implementation of the new Norwegian law regarding mental healthcare in 2001, Norwegian hospital-based psychologists with clinical specialist qualifications can make legal decisions regarding the coercion of psychiatric patients. However, it has not been known which attitudes psychologists have towards coercing patients. In the present study, 340 psychologists responded to a questionnaire containing three cases with patients suffering from schizophrenia. They were asked in which cases they would admit involuntarily and treat the patients involuntarily with neuroleptics. A majority would coerce when the patient was violent. More than a third would coerce when the patient had problems coping with activities of daily life. The fewest would coerce a patient that was in an early schizophrenic development with few symptoms. In the cases involving non-violent patients, significantly more would accept involuntary admission than involuntary treatment with neuroleptics. Higher age, female sex and prior experience with coercion were positive predictors of willingness to coerce.