[Compulsory commitment to a psychiatric hospital--the status in Austria].

Since 1991 in Austria a new law regulates involuntary admission at psychiatric hospitals and any other restriction of patient's freedom. Within 4 days a judge has to decide about further involuntary treatment. A new profession was established for involuntary patients support--the patients advocat. After a slow decrease of institutionalization rate in 1991 the number of involuntary admissions went up in 1993. The effects of the law upon psychiatric patients and treatment in psychiatric hospitals are discussed. Most psychiatrists (81%) are dissatisfied with the new legal situation because they see negative effects for some patients and have to spend a lot of time for juridical matters.