The Psychiatrist (2004) 28: 360-363. doi: 10.1192/pb.28.10.360
© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Psychiatric Bulletin (2004) 28: 360-363
© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

In hospital, at home, or not at all

A cross-sectional survey of patient preferences for receipt of compulsory treatment

*Mike J. Crawford

Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College London, Paterson Centre, 20 South Wharf Road, London W2 1PD (tel: 0207 886 1993, fax: 0207 886 1995; e-mail: m.crawford{at}imperial.ac.uk)

Rebecca Gibbon

medical student

Elizabeth Ellis

medical student

Hannah Waters

medical student, Imperial College London

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

In view of plans to reform Mental Health Act legislation to allow compulsory treatment in the community, we examined the views of service users about this form of care, and the most acceptable setting for its delivery. A cross-sectional survey of patients discharged from two in-patient units in West London over a 5-month period was carried out.

RESULTS

Half of the 109 respondents stated that compulsory treatment was justified under some circumstances; 103 people told us where they would prefer to receive compulsory treatment – 49 in their home, 41 in hospital and 13 in a community treatment centre. The most commonly stated reason for favouring home treatment was dislike of in-patient care.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Compulsory treatment in the community may provide a means of improving patient experiences of non-consensual care. However, a significant minority of service users would rather this form of treatment was restricted to in-patient units. Continuing efforts are required to improve patient experiences of in-patient care.