Patient communication ability as predictor of involuntary admission and coercive measures in psychiatric inpatient treatment

Abstract

Coercive measures (CM) and involuntary admission to psychiatric treatment can have detrimental consequences for patients. Past research shows that certain clinical, treatment and admission-related characteristics put patients at a higher risk of experiencing CM and involuntary admission. Although of high societal importance, the association between patients' communication ability and CM and involuntary admission has not been subject of past research. To explicitly examine this association the authors conducted a retrospective study using data from patients admitted to psychiatric inpatient treatment via the emergency room at Charité St. Hedwig Hospital, Berlin in 2019. As independent variable, communication ability at admission was recorded (perfect; limited due to language or other reasons; impossible due to language or other reasons) along with possibly confounding variables including demographic, clinical and admission-related details. As dependent variables, involuntary admission and CM were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted examining the association between communication ability and involuntary admission and CM. In a sample of N = 1556, controlling for potential confounders, limited (OR = 3.08; p = .004) or no communication ability (OR = 4.02; p = .003) due to language barrier or limited (OR = 3.10; p < .001) or no communication ability (OR = 13.71; p < .001) due to other factors were significant predictors for involuntary admission. Limited communication ability due to language barrier (OR = 4.53; p < .001) and limited (OR = 1.58; p = .034) and no communication ability (OR = 3.55; p < .001) due to other factors were significant predictors for CM. These findings show that patients impaired in their communication ability are at higher risk of involuntary admission and CM and highlight the urgency of implementing appropriate interventions facilitating communication during admission and treatment.

Keywords: Acute psychiatry; Coercive measures; Communication ability; Involuntary admission; Restraint; Seclusion.