Caregivers' perceptions of coercion in psychiatric hospital admission. Issue 3 (30th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ranieri, Veronica; Madigan, Kevin; Roche, Eric; Bainbridge, Emma; McGuinness, David; Tierney, Kevin; Feeney, Larkin; Hallahan, Brian; McDonald, Colm; O'Donoghue, Brian
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 228:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 385
• Publication Date: 2015-08-30
• Subjects: Involuntary admission -- Ethics -- Schizophrenia -- Perceived coercion -- Procedural justice; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: While knowledge on service users' perspective on their admissions to psychiatric wards has improved substantially in the last decade, there is a paucity of knowledge of the perspectives of caregivers. This study aimed to determine caregiver's perception of the levels of perceived coercion, perceived pressures and procedural justice experienced by service users during their admission to acute psychiatric in-patient units. The perspective of caregivers were then compared to the perspectives of their related service users, who had been admitted to five psychiatric units in Ireland. Caregivers were interviewed using an adapted version of the MacArthur admission experience interview. Sixty-six caregivers participated in this study and the majority were parents. Seventy one percent of service users were admitted involuntarily and nearly half had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Caregivers of involuntarily admitted individuals perceived the service users' admission as less coercive than reported by the service users. Caregivers also perceived a higher level of procedural justice in comparison to the level reported by service users. Reducing the disparity of perceptions between caregivers and service users could result in caregivers having a greater understanding of the admission process and why some service users may be reluctant to be admitted. Highlights: The perspectives of 66 caregivers on the experience of admission was sought. Caregivers perceived the admission to be less coercive than the service user reported. Caregivers perceived the admission to be more procedurally just. Only half of service users were willing for their caregivers to be interviewed.