Psychiatrists' Views on Compulsory Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa
Author Information
Author(s): Jacinta Tan, Helen Doll, Raymond Fitzpatrick, Anne Stewart, Tony Hope
Primary Institution: The Ethox Centre, Department of Public Health, University of Oxford
Hypothesis
What are the attitudes of psychiatrists towards autonomy, best interests, and compulsory treatment in anorexia nervosa?
Conclusion
Senior psychiatrists generally support the use of compulsory treatment to protect the health and welfare of patients with anorexia nervosa.
Supporting Evidence
- Respondents generally supported compulsory treatment under mental health legislation.
- Child and adolescent psychiatrists favored parental consent for treatment.
- Eating disorder specialists were less likely to think patients with mild anorexia were choosing their behaviors.
Takeaway
Doctors think it's okay to force treatment on people with anorexia nervosa if it helps keep them safe and healthy.
Methodology
A postal self-completed attitudinal questionnaire was sent to senior psychiatrists in the UK.
Potential Biases
The study may not represent the views of all psychiatrists in the UK due to the limited geographic sampling.
Limitations
The response rate was not high, and the sample was limited to psychiatrists from the South East Region of England.
Participant Demographics
The majority of respondents were male, consultant psychiatrists, with a significant portion being child and adolescent psychiatrists.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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