The continuous increase of coercive psychiatric measures in consequence to the change in the Guardianship law suggests that this change has influenced the practice. The differences at federal and state levels, and the sharper rise in the former East Germany by lower rates in comparison to the former West Germany need an explanation, as well as the fact that the rate of involuntary admissions is associated at least in the former East Germany with economic conditions.
In spite of the legal changes in the direction of a dynamic instrument in mental health care, the practise of the Legal Guardianship Law indicates a continuous increase of guardianship orders since 1992. It is necessary to recognise that a slowdown of the upward trend is not in sight. Therefore it is pertinent to call those persons in charge of regulating legal guardianship to consider their daily practise carefully. On the other hand it is a task of mental health services research to analyse the driving factors of the presented developments.
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