[Is there an increase in the number of compulsory admissions of mentally ill patients in European Union Member States?].

PURPOSE: In a study subsidized by the European Commission, the course of compulsory admission rates (admissions per 100,000 population) and compulsory admission quotas (proportion of annual compulsory admissions of all admissions to psychiatric inpatient treatment) of mentally ill patients from 15 European member states was analysed.
METHOD: Information was gathered by means of a detailed questionnaire filled in by experts from all EU-Member States.
RESULTS: Compulsory admission rates and compulsory admission quotas differ significantly across the EU member states. Compulsory admission rates range from 6 (Portugal) to 218 (Finland) per 100,000 population and compulsory admission quotas vary from 3.2 % (Portugal) to 30 % (Sweden). In some member states a significant increase of compulsory admission rates was detected without a significant increase of compulsory admission quotas.
CONCLUSION: The relatively steady compulsory admission quotas suggest no real increase of coercion regarding admission to psychiatric inpatient care. Increasing compulsory admission rates rather reflect changing overall patterns of providing psychiatric service, tending towards decreased length of hospital stays, and more frequent readmissions.