Psychiatric advance directives.

Psychiatric advance directives are gaining attention as the number of consumers seeking metal health services increases. Even though medical advance directives have existed for years, psychiatric advance directives are in their infancy. The goal of these directives is to increase patient autonomy and decrease coercive treatment. Although this concept sounds simple, advance directives have generated heated debates that encompass ethics, law, and medicine. Psychiatric advance directives are also not universally accepted--only 14 states currently recognize such directives. This review article discusses the premise behind psychiatric advance directives and explores possible benefits and obstacles to the use of such directives.