Short summary

Like other countries, Danish law allows for using coercive measures in psychiatry in specified situations. According to the Psychiatry Act, the use of coercive measures must always come up to the 'least-intrusive-remedy' principle. The Psychiatry Act provides little guidance on the implementation thereof, and there is scant knowledge of what coercive measures staff and patients experience as least intrusive.

Rationale

PURPOSE. To investigate how patients and psychiatric staff experience the application of various coercive measures (CM) and identify which CM are least intrusive. The project aims to examine and specify the least intrusive remedy principle within a Danish, psychiatric context.

METHOD.

1. A study of the literature in relation to empirical research on patients' and staff's experiences of various forms of coercion.

2. a) Validation of the Coercion Experience Scale (CES) questionnaire and b) A study of CES among patients, who have previously been exposed to CMs.

3. Interviews with psychiatric staff in forensic psychiatric units and general psychiatric units, respectively, on their experiences regarding application of various CM, and which reflections are involved in this process.

PERSPECTIVES. Knowledge of the experience and graduation of various forms of CMs is fundamental to practicing the essence of LIRP and may also help formulating future legislation.

Description of the cohort

Mental health patients with the experience of being subject to coercive measures under admission at a psychiatric hospital.

Staff, working at a psychiatric hospital, who have experience with the application of coercive measures at a psychiatric hospital.

Data and biological material

Data consists of existing empirical research, questionnaires and interviews.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Forensic Mental Health Research Unit (RFM), Middelfart Hospital Region of Southern Denmark, Department of Regional Health Research, SDU,

• Frederik A. Gildberg

Mental Health Center Sct. Hans, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark.

• Jacob C. Hvidhjelm

School of Healthcare, University of Leeds,

• John A. Baker

Open Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital (SDU) & Department of Clinical Research, SDU,

• Søren F. Birkeland