Religious Affiliation as a Predictor of Involuntary Psychiatric Admission: A Brazilian 1-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze factors associated with the legal status at psychiatric admission of individuals with psychosis or bipolar disorder in a Latin-American cultural setting.Methods: Prospective observational study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed 169 individuals with bipolar or psychotic disorder in need of hospitalization. Sociodemographic data, data on the psychiatric disorder, information about the hospital stay, and data at time of discharge were collected. Their families were also contacted by telephone and interviews were conducted at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months post-discharge as a follow-up.Results: Eighty-eight patients (52%) had a voluntary admission and 81 (48%) had an involuntary admission (IA). The average length of admission was similar in both groups (17.4 vs. 17.3 days, p = 0.22). It was significantly more common for IA patients to be admitted because of other-directed aggressiveness (47.7 vs. 65.4%, p = 0.02). The percentage of individuals that needed physical restraint during hospital stay among IA patients was also significantly higher (11.4 vs. 25.9%, p = 0.01). Having any religious affiliations was significantly related to an IA status as well (OR = 4–6.48).Conclusion: Our results suggest that cultural factors related to religious affiliations might play an important role in determining psychiatric hospitalization legal status. Religion might possibly influence someone’s judgment and insight about his/her psychiatric disorder. This study restates the importance of dealing with the subject of religion with patients.

Clinical and social factors associated with increased risk for involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and narrative synthesis

“…The full meta-analysis results are presented in table 2 and a meta-analysis restricted to high-quality studies is presented in table 3. Forest plots are available in the appendix (pp [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35].…”

“…89 Two studies noted no effect. 34,35 The association between involuntary hospitalisation and risk to self was widely reported, although whether the assessment of risk was based on previous self-harm or suicide attempts, or expressions of suicidal ideation, was often unclear. Nine studies found that suicidal behaviour, ideation, and history were associated with voluntary rather than involuntary hospitali sati on.…”

“…17,27,28,43,67,80,82,85,86 In five studies, risk to self was associated with involuntary admission, 7,69,72,74,87 whereas in 17 studies, no association was noted between risk to self and the legal status of admission. 30,34,38,41,42,58,59,71,73,75,77,79,89,91,92,95,96 18 studies reported on risk to others and all noted a positive association with involuntary hospitalisation. 7,17,30,34,41,43,[58][59][60]67,69,[72][73][74]79,80,91,95 However, measurement and definition of risk to others was inconsistent througho...…”

Correlates of Involuntary Admission: Findings From an Italian Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

“…This inpatient unit serves a catchment area of 501,351 residents on an area of 4,298.38 km 2 , with a population density of 116 inhabitants per km 2 (ISTAT 2015). The unit has 17 beds.…”

Outcomes of involuntary psychiatric commitment: An integrative review

“…In Brazil, as reflected in the study of Casella and Loch [17] religious affiliation was determined as a predictor of involuntary psychiatric admission. The study involved eighty eight patients who were voluntarily admitted and eighty one involuntarily admitted.…”