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.
