Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry : Clinical, Legal and Ethical Aspects

Coercion is one of the most fascinating and controversial subjects in psychiatry. It is a highly sensitive, and hotly debated topic in which clinical practice, ethics, the law and public policy converge. This book considers coercion within the healing and ethical framework of therapeutic relationships and partnerships at all levels, and addresses the universal problem of how to balance safety versus autonomy when dealing with psychiatric treatment. Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry is a much needed contribution to the literature. The first three sections deal with the conceptual and clinical aspects of coercive treatment, the legal aspects and the ethical aspects of coercive treatment. In detail, these sections cover a broad spectrum of issues: coercion in institutions and in the community, coercive treatment and stigma, the definition of best practice standards for coercive treatment, de-escalation of risk situations, recent developments in mental health legislation, mental health care and patients' rights, cross-cultural perspectives on coercive treatment, historical injustice in psychiatry, and paternalism in mental health. The fourth section features users' views on coercive treatment: giving voice to an often-unheeded population. Finally, the book addresses the original topic of coercion and undue influence in decisions to participate in psychiatric research. This book presents the first comprehensive review of the issue of coercion in psychiatry. With chapters written by the leading experts in the field, many of whom are renowned as clear thinkers and experienced clinicians, it may be seen as a starting point for international discussions and initiatives in this field aiming to minimize coercion. Highly Commended in the Psychiatry section of the 2012 BMA Book Awards.> Coercion is one of the most fascinating and controversial subjects in psychiatry. It is a highly sensitive, and hotly debated topic in which clinical practice, ethics, the law and public policy converge. This book considers coercion within the healing and ethical framework of therapeutic relationships and partnerships at all levels, and addresses the universal problem of how to balance safety versus autonomy when dealing with psychiatric treatment.

Coercive Treatment in Psychiatry is a much needed contribution to the literature. The first three sections deal with the conceptual and clinical aspects of coercive treatment, the legal aspects and the ethical aspects of coercive treatment. In detail, these sections cover a broad spectrum of issues: coercion in institutions and in the community, coercive treatment and stigma, the definition of best practice standards for coercive treatment, de-escalation of risk situations, recent developments in mental health legislation, mental health care and patients’ rights, cross-cultural perspectives on coercive treatment, historical injustice in psychiatry, and paternalism in mental health. The fourth section features users’ views on coercive treatment: giving voice to an often-unheeded population. Finally, the book addresses the original topic of coercion and undue influence in decisions to participate in psychiatric research

This book presents the first comprehensive review of the issue of coercion in psychiatry. With chapters written by the leading experts in the field, many of whom are renowned as clear thinkers and experienced clinicians, it may be seen as a starting point for international discussions and initiatives in this field aiming to minimize coercion.

Kallert (psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and psychotherapy, Dresden U. of Technology, Germany) et al. compile 17 essays that examine the issue of coercion in psychiatry and related clinical, legal, and ethical issues. A group of psychiatrists and a few lawyers from North America, Europe, Egypt, Israel, and New Zealand address the conceptual and clinical aspects of coercive treatment, including the issue of the individual, the link between coercive treatment and the stigma of mental illness, mandated psychiatric treatment in the community, best practice standards, and how to de-escalate clinical risk. Subsequent sections focus legal and ethical aspects like the fusion of incapacity and mental health legislation to reduce discrimination, whether mental health care and patients' rights are compatible, cross-cultural perspectives, historical injustice in psychiatry, the issue of paternalism, users' views, and coercion and undue influence in decisions to participate in psychiatric research. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) This ground-breaking book presents a comprehensive review of a critically important, highly sensitive, and hotly debated issue in psychiatry. It explores important clinical, legal, and ethical aspects of coercive treatment, and even -- uniquely -- includes the views of service users.