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Junior doctors' experience and knowledge of procedures in compulsory psychiatric admissions in Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Geraldine Swift ,
M Nasir ,
John D Sheehan  and
Patricia R Casey
Geraldine Swift
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Rawnsley Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, (Department of Adult Psychiatry, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland)
M Nasir
Affiliation:
St Brendan's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Patricia R Casey
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract

Objectives: Prompted by the current debate in Ireland regarding involuntary detention, we undertook a survey of psychiatric trainees to examine their level of knowledge of the legislation governing such admissions.

Method: Eighty psychiatric trainees working in centres affiliated to a particular training scheme were invited to complete a purpose-designed instrument.

Results: Response rate was 52/80. Trainees were well informed concerning the procedures necessary to initiate detention. Their knowledge of the legal indications for involuntary detention and restrictions on its duration was patchy.

Conclusions: We suggest that training in the area of mental health legislation needs to be increased and to focus on satisfying legal requirements in real-life scenarios.

Keywords

Mental health legislation and jurisprudenceCommitment of mentally illProfessional competence.
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , March 2001 , pp. 21 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

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