Involuntary hospitalization for treatment purpose; an act of caregiving? Perspectives and experiences of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia

Background: Coercive methods in psychiatry are still a matter of debate, raising ethical challenges ranging from liberal to paternalistic approaches. Involuntary hospitalisation (IH) for treatment purpose is a major intervention not yet fully examined from patients’ perspectives. Aim: To examine at discharge the views and experiences of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia involuntarily hospitalized in a psychotic state for treatment purpose. Method: We examined nine patients with semi-structured interview concerning their views on IH in general, their own admission, and ways to prevent such situations. Results: None of the patients considered their IH necessary in its entirety or viewed their condition as psychosis. They did not consider IH as an act of care and believed that community support could have prevented IH in their case. They stressed that psychiatric patients should be able to refuse treatment as somatic patients are. Discussion: We discuss the patients’ experiences and negative view of IH, the concepts of psychosis and insight, possibilities of acute outpatient intervention and ethical issues.