Accessible summary: Involuntary admissions to psychiatric units are widespread among immigrants patients. An exploration of in what way immigrants patients involuntary and voluntary admitted differ, and what are the reasons for involuntary admissions. Involuntary admitted immigrants more often received diagnoses of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders than voluntary admitted immigrants. Involuntary admitted immigrants reported more social problems, problems with social welfare agencies, feelings of being isolated, of guilt, than those voluntary admitted. Many of the misunderstandings and attitudes interpreted as aggressive or violent behaviour may decrease if immigrant patients feel that their message is understood by healthcare personnel. Involuntary psychiatric admissions are widespread among patients with an immigrant background. According to a study in Norway, involuntary admissions are about 75% of admissions among immigrants compared to roughly 50% among ethnic Norwegians. The aim of the present study was to compare clinical and demographic characteristics of immigrant patients with involuntary or voluntary admissions to two acute psychiatric units. A 3-year prospective study of 94 immigrant patients involuntarily and voluntarily admitted to acute psychiatric units was carried out. Sixty-two patients (66.0%) were voluntarily and 30 (31.9%) involuntarily admitted. Involuntary admissions were significantly higher among men (22, 73.3%) compared to women (8, 26.7%; χ 2= 4.507, d.f. = 1, P= 0.03). The mean length of stay for voluntary and involuntary patients were 7.8 (SD = 6.6) and 21.6 (SD = 27.3; t=-2.7, d.f. = 88, P= 0.01). Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychotic disorder were more often admitted involuntarily (63.0%; χ 2= 17.83, P= 0.001). This study confirms that immigrant patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders are more often involuntarily than voluntarily admitted. Comparing the clinical and demographic characteristics of immigrants helps identify the reasons behind involuntary admissions and might improve efforts towards reducing such admissions in the future. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing.

Voluntary immigrants Psychiatry Admission Involuntary

hospital admission prospective study Norway psychological aspect Prospective Studies human Time Factors Mental Disorders mental disease Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Article adult migration Patient Admission mental hospital forensic psychiatry Commitment of Mentally Ill Hospitals, Psychiatric time