Involuntary admission is a controversial issue with legislation varying from country to country.

Research on elderly individuals being involuntary admitted is limited.

Firstly at assessing whether involuntary admitted (IA) elderly individuals differ from voluntary admitted (VA) patients and secondly to assess whether IA should be treated in a different way.

40 IA were compared to 39 VA with regard to demographic data, DSM-IV diagnosis as well as behavioral issues recorded with the Patient Staff Conflict Checklist Shift Report (PSCCSR). all patients were aged 60 and over and were admitted in the psychiatric departments of four general hospitals in Athens. the study period was 12 months.

VA patients were more likely to be married, working and suffering from mood disorders, whilst IA patients presented with delirium. From the 20 items of the PSCCSR, differences were found only in two: IA presented more aggressive in the first few days of admission and VA had recent suicide attempt just before admission.

The patients’ characteristics as well as the psychiatric and nursing needs of VA and IA elderly individuals in an acute psychiatric ward do not differ. They tentatively support the argument that since IA and VA elderly psychiatric inpatients exhibit similar behaviour being kept under section for long periods is unwarranted.