Dataset Information

Retrospective views of psychiatric in-patients regaining mental capacity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An individual's right to self-determination in treatment decisions is a central principle of modern medical ethics and law, and is upheld except under conditions of mental incapacity. When doctors, particularly psychiatrists, override the treatment wishes of individuals, they risk conflicting with this principle. Few data are available on the views of people regaining capacity who had their treatment wishes overridden.

Aims

To investigate individuals' views on treatment decisions after they had regained capacity.

Method

One hundred and fifteen people who lacked capacity to make treatment decisions were recruited from a sample of consecutively admitted patients to a large psychiatric hospital. After 1 month of treatment we asked the individuals for their views on the surrogate treatment decisions they received.

Results

Eighty-three per cent (95% CI 66-93) of people who regained capacity gave retrospective approval. Approval was no different between those admitted informally or involuntarily using Mental Health Act powers (chi(2) = 1.52, P = 0.47). Individuals were more likely to give retrospective approval if they regained capacity (chi(2) = 14.2, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Most people who regain capacity following psychiatric treatment indicate retrospective approval. This is the case even if initial treatment wishes are overridden. These findings moderate concerns both about surrogate decision-making by psychiatrists and advance decision-making by people with mental illness.

SUBMITTER: Owen GS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2806572 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Retrospective views of psychiatric in-patients regaining mental capacity.

Owen Gareth S GS David Anthony S AS Hayward Peter P Richardson Genevra G Szmukler George G Hotopf Matthew M

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science 20091101 5

<h4>Background</h4>An individual's right to self-determination in treatment decisions is a central principle of modern medical ethics and law, and is upheld except under conditions of mental incapacity. When doctors, particularly psychiatrists, override the treatment wishes of individuals, they risk conflicting with this principle. Few data are available on the views of people regaining capacity who had their treatment wishes overridden.<h4>Aims</h4>To investigate individuals' views on treatment ...[more]

PMID: 19880929

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Dataset Information

Retrospective views of psychiatric in-patients regaining mental capacity.

Background

Aims

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Retrospective views of psychiatric in-patients regaining mental capacity.

Similar Datasets

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