Review Board Outcomes for Involuntary Patients in Provincial Psychiatric Hospitals

OBJECTIVE: To identify long-term trends and compare different psychiatric hospitals with regard to outcomes of involuntary certification. METHOD: Data on outcomes of involuntary certification were obtained from the London and St Thomas Psychiatric Hospitals for 1987 to 1997, from the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office pertaining to 10 psychiatric hospitals for 1987 to 1993, and from published data from the North Bay Psychiatric Hospital for 1992 to 1994. Data were compared regarding outcome variables. RESULTS: There are variable rates and proportions among the psychiatric hospitals for outcomes of involuntary certification, including patients choosing to withdraw their applications to Review Boards, physicians cancelling involuntary certificates by completing Form 5s, and Review Boards rescinding certificates. Overall, few certificates were rescinded by the Boards, a trend that was even more pronounced in recent years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who are in psychiatric hospitals on an involuntary basis are infrequently released from hospital as a result of a Review Board rescinding their certificate.