Discipline: Psychiatry

Coercion and Involuntary Care: A Study of Involuntary and Voluntary Psychiatry Inpatients in Dublin

PhD Student: Aoife O’Callaghan Supervisor: Professor Brendan Kelly

Overview of Project: This research aims to examine how patients feel they have been treated in hospital. Specifically, it looks at coercion among voluntary and involuntary psychiatric inpatients. Coercion means being forced to do something. The study looks at whether or not people receive psychiatric care in a way that makes them feel respected. It will attempt to assess perceived levels of control, choice, respect, privacy, attitudes towards medication and satisfaction with treatment. The results obtained aim to provide a clear picture of patient’s own experiences during treatment, providing important information that will help to shape future revisions of clinical policies and procedures.

This study will examine coercion and perceived procedural justice in relation to involuntary and voluntary psychiatric admission. The first objective is to determine levels of perceived coercion among involuntary and voluntary psychiatry inpatients in Tallaght Acute Psychiatry Unit and Connolly Acute Psychiatry Unit, and relate these to variables such as age, gender and diagnosis, attitudes to treatment and therapeutic alliances. Long-term impact of project: Inpatient admission is a common feature of mental health services worldwide. This research aims to provide a greater understanding of the demographic and clinical correlates of admission status and associated perceived coercion in order to provide evidence to inform policy in this setting.

PhD Candidate Quote : “Being supported to pursue this research and have exposure to the academic side of psychiatry while continuing to work clinically has been an invaluable experience.”