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Clinical predictors of involuntary detention among voluntary inpatients in St Patrick’s University Hospital (SPUH)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 September 2015

B. Masood ,
S. O’Ceallaigh ,
T. Thekiso ,
M. Nichol ,
P. Kowalska-Beda ,
M. Murphy ,
J. Creedon ,
T. Maher ,
D. McLoughlin  and
N. Kennedy
B. Masood
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
S. O’Ceallaigh
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
T. Thekiso
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
M. Nichol
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
P. Kowalska-Beda
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
M. Murphy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Psychiatry, St. Edmundsbury Hospital, Lucan, Ireland
J. Creedon
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
T. Maher
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
D. McLoughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Dublin University, Dublin, Ireland
N. Kennedy*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Psychiatry, St. Edmundsbury Hospital, Lucan, Ireland Dublin University, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr N. Kennedy, Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin 8, Co. Dublin, Ireland. (Email: nkennedy@stpatsmail.com)
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Abstract

Background

Few studies have described clinical characteristics of patients subject to an involuntary detention in an Irish context. The Irish Mental Health Act 2001 makes provision under Section 23(1), whereby a person who has voluntary admission status can be detained.

Aims

This study aimed to describe all involuntary admissions to St Patrick’s University Hospital (SPUH) (2011–2013) and to evaluate clinical characteristics of voluntary patients who underwent Mental Health Act assessment during 2011 to determine differences in those who had involuntary admission orders completed and those who did not.

Methods

All uses of Mental Health Act 2001 within SPUH 2011–2013 were identified. All uses of Section 23(1) during 2011 were reviewed and relevant documents/case-notes examined using a pro forma covering clinical data, factors recognized to influence involuntary admissions and validated scales were used to determine diagnoses, insight, suicide and violence risk.

Results

Over 2011–2013, 2.5–3.8% of all admissions were involuntary with more detained after use of Section 23(1) than Section 14(2). The majority of initiations of Section 23(1) did not result in an involuntary admission (72%), occurred out of hours (52%) and many occurred early after admission (<1 week, 43%). Initiation of Section 23(1) by a consultant psychiatrist (p=0.001), suicide risk (p=0.03) and lack of patient insight into treatment (p=0.007) predicted conversion to involuntary admission.

Conclusion

This study predicts a role for patient insight, suicide risk and consultant psychiatrist decision making in the initiation of Mental Health Act assessment of voluntary patients. Further data describing the involuntary admissions process in an Irish setting are needed.

Keywords

Capacityinsightinvoluntary detentioninvoluntary detention predictorsIrish Mental Health Act 2001
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , March 2017 , pp. 13 - 18
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2015 

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