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Involuntary Treatment of Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients: A Nation-Wide Survey From Finland

NCJ Number
223233
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2008 Pages: 407-419
Author(s)
Heikki T. Ellila; Andre Sourander; Maritta Valimaki; Tony Warne; Matti Kaivosoja
Date Published
June 2008
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This national cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence rates, regional differences, and factors associated with the involuntary inpatient treatment of adolescents in Finland.
Abstract
Results indicate that 48 percent of involuntarily inpatients were 16-17 years old and 62 percent had psychotic disorders. Twenty-sex percent of inpatients with involuntary legal status were voluntarily admitted. Regional differences of involuntary treatment were rather modest. Psychotic disorders, suicidal acts, and substance use disorders were independently associated with involuntary legal status. Most of the recent research on involuntary psychiatric treatment deals with adult samples. The present national study provides information on the involuntary psychiatric treatment of adolescents in Finland by exploring prevalence rates, regional differences, and a wide range of factors including demographic, family, ICD-10 diagnosis, functional level, levels of suicidality, and propensity for violence associated with the involuntary treatment of adolescents. The study, carried out in January 2000, concerned all the child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients treated in the wards (n=69) in Finland on the chosen day. Tables, references