The experience of involuntary detention in acute psychiatric care. A review and synthesis of qualitative studies
Abstract
Objective To build on a previous review and updated understanding of how patients experience involuntary detention for their mental health difficulties.Design We provide a narrative synthesis review of qualitative studies.Data sources Using pre-defined search terms, the following databases were searched covering the period 2006 to March 2014: Psychinfo, Medline, Medline In-Process, Embase, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Science Direct, British Nursing Index and Cinahl Plus. Three journals were electronically hand-searched.Review methods The search resulted in the retrieval of 6230 records which were screened by title. Relevant studies were then screened by abstract and further articles were read for full text. References of articles read for full text were screened using an inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of fifteen studies were identified and a quality evaluation tool was applied to each study. Themes and constructs from all fifteen studies were coded and synthesised.Results Seven overarching themes emerged. 'Sanctuary', 'loss of normality and perceived independence', 'feeling terrified' and 'fluctuating emotions' illustrate the experiences of involuntary detention. The remaining themes reflect the factors that influence these experiences: 'a continuum of person-centred practice', 'disempowerment' and 'intra-psychic coping'.Conclusions Participants varied in how they experienced involuntary detention. Some people experienced a sense of sanctuary, whereas others experienced loss, fear and trauma. People's experiences were influenced by the degree of actual or perceived person-centred and empowering care, which also had an impact on their coping style. Development of a therapeutic bond with clinicians was a key factor which influenced positive experiences of involuntary detention. The implications of the findings are discussed with reference to existing literature and recommendations are made for clinical practice. Ideas for future research are identified.
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Some observers have noted a correlation between increases in involuntary detainment of individuals in psychiatric crisis and limited or non-existent access to voluntary mental health treatment options, including upstream services that may prevent psychiatric crises.
“Some observers have noted a correlation between increases in involuntary detainment of individuals in psychiatric crisis and limited or non-existent access to voluntary mental health treatment options, including upstream services that may prevent psychiatric crises [12–15].”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
People who have experienced involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment would have preferred to receive treatment through voluntary means with opportunities for fully informed decision-making.
“Similar to the participants in this study, reports elsewhere have noted study participants views that their primary concern was not with the need for psychiatric retreatment, but that they would have preferred to receive treatment through voluntary means with opportunities for fully informed decision-making [15,44,50].”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
Some people who have experienced involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment felt they would not have accepted treatment otherwise.
“and others have documented perspectives that participants felt they would not have accepted treatment otherwise [15,46,50]”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
In involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment, people are treated like children.
“being treated like children [15,45,46]”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
Some people who have experienced involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment feel they have benefited from their treatment.
“Some studies have shown that people who have experienced involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment feel they have benefited from their treatment”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
Clinicians listening to, understanding, and respecting patients builds trust and improves quality of care during psychiatric treatment.
“The importance of clinicians listening to, understanding, and respecting patients [15,46] to build trust to improve the quality of care during psychiatric treatment [45] is a common theme in the literature on involuntary psychiatric treatment.”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
Patients receiving involuntary psychiatric treatment report not being provided information about the reasons for their detention.
“This is not the first study in which patients receiving involuntary psychiatric treatment report not being provided information about the reasons for their detention [15,46]”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
Medication and restraints are the main interventions used during involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment, with little use of other beneficial interventions such as psychotherapy and meaningful recreational, educational, or occupational activities.
“As in this study, previous research describes medication [15,44] and restraints [15] as being the main interventions used during involuntary psychiatric admission and treatment, with little use of other interventions that could be beneficial, such as psychotherapy and meaningful recreational, educational, or occupational activities [44,46].”
From “Backed into a Corner”: Lived experiences of receiving and providing involuntary psychiatric treatment under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (2026) · cites this paper as [15]
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“Key Words: Involuntary psychiatric admission, mental health, hospitalizations, health care, public health, clinical, treatment (J Nerv Ment Dis 2022;210: 290–311) D espite the shift from institutional care to community-based care in the field of mental health assistance, involuntary psychiatric admission (IPA) or hosp…”
BackgroundInfluentialSnow, M. E., Salmon, A., Banjo, J., Morrow, M., & Varcoe, C. (2026) · PLOS One · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0329049
- Authors
- Seed, T., Fox, J. R. E., & Berry, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Berry, Katherine
- Venue
- International Journal of Nursing Studies
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 61
- Pages
- 82-94
- ISSN
- 0020-7489 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2417073209
- Cited by
- 70
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5
- FWCI
- 0.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Nursing Studies (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
- Keywords
- involuntary detention, acute psychiatric care, patient experience, sanctuaries, fear, trauma, person-centred care, disempowerment, coping, therapeutic relationship, psychiatric inpatients
- MeSH terms
- Mental Disorders, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male
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