Documentation, Application and Efforts to Reduce Involuntary Admissions and Coercive Measures - Results from a Nationwide Study on Acute Psychiatric Hospitals in Germany

Objective This nationwide full census survey investigated the documentation status regarding involuntary admissions and coercive measures in psychiatric hospitals in Germany. Methods As part of the ZIPHER study, a questionnaire survey on the documentation, application and reduction of coercion was conducted ( N = 147, response rate = 34.4 %). Results The majority of participating hospitals reported a comprehensive documentation of the use of coercion. However, substantial regional differences could be found in this regard as well as for the use of guidelines. The involuntary admission quote was M = 13.4 % (+/- 10.9). Of those, 33.9 % (+/- 22.2) were affected by mechanical restraint, 8.9 % (+/- 17.2) by seclusion, and 11.8 % (+/- 18.0) by compulsory medication. Conclusion The regional differences plead for a unification of legal bases and applied practice as well as for a merge of respective data on a nationwide level of the relevant stakeholders.