Biomaterial Database

[Ethical attitudes towards involuntary admission and involuntary treatment of patients with schizophrenia]. 2007

Tilman Steinert

Zentrum für Psychiatrie Weissenau, Abt. Psychiatrie I der Universität Ulm, 88190 Ravensburg. tilman.steinert@zfp-weissenau.de

OBJECTIVE Involuntary commitment and treatment of patients with schizophrenia pose ethical dilemmas on all persons involved--doctors, judges, custodians and relatives. Both respect of the patient's autonomy, effective treatment (beneficence) and avoiding of harm (non-maleficence) are ethically desirable. METHODS Literature review. RESULTS Different ethical theories can be the base of diverging attitudes and corresponding decisions, though the acting persons frequently are not aware of such underlying concepts. There is evidence from empirical studies that the attitudes towards involuntary treatment depend on variables such as profession, age, nationality and own experiences with mental illness. CONCLUSIONS Further research should focus on outcomes and the user perspective and should pave the way to an evidence-supported ethics.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003068	Coercion	The use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance.
D003134	Commitment of Mentally Ill	Legal process required for the institutionalization of a patient with severe mental problems.	Outpatient Commitment,Commitment, Outpatient,Mentally Ill Commitments
D004992	Ethics, Medical	The principles of professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the physician, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the physician in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families.	Medical Ethics
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001291	Attitude of Health Personnel	Attitudes of personnel toward their patients, other professionals, toward the medical care system, etc.	Staff Attitude,Attitude, Staff,Attitudes, Staff,Health Personnel Attitude,Health Personnel Attitudes,Staff Attitudes
D012559	Schizophrenia	A severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with delusion formation, HALLUCINATIONS, emotional disharmony, and regressive behavior.	Dementia Praecox,Schizophrenic Disorders,Disorder, Schizophrenic,Disorders, Schizophrenic,Schizophrenias,Schizophrenic Disorder
D014150	Antipsychotic Agents	Agents that control agitated psychotic behavior, alleviate acute psychotic states, reduce psychotic symptoms, and exert a quieting effect. They are used in SCHIZOPHRENIA; senile dementia; transient psychosis following surgery; or MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION; etc. These drugs are often referred to as neuroleptics alluding to the tendency to produce neurological side effects, but not all antipsychotics are likely to produce such effects. Many of these drugs may also be effective against nausea, emesis, and pruritus.	Antipsychotic,Antipsychotic Agent,Antipsychotic Drug,Antipsychotic Medication,Major Tranquilizer,Neuroleptic,Neuroleptic Agent,Neuroleptic Drug,Neuroleptics,Tranquilizing Agents, Major,Antipsychotic Drugs,Antipsychotic Effect,Antipsychotic Effects,Antipsychotics,Major Tranquilizers,Neuroleptic Agents,Neuroleptic Drugs,Tranquillizing Agents, Major,Agent, Antipsychotic,Agent, Neuroleptic,Drug, Antipsychotic,Drug, Neuroleptic,Effect, Antipsychotic,Major Tranquilizing Agents,Major Tranquillizing Agents,Medication, Antipsychotic,Tranquilizer, Major