Insights and risk factors of involuntary hospitalizations through a retrospective analysis of police records: differences between involuntarily and non-hospitalized patients

Involuntary psychiatric admission poses a challenge in terms of providing the most effective yet least restrictive care in accordance with each country's regulations. Effective communication and coordination between the justice, police, and healthcare systems are essential for the successful implementation of this process. This study examines the sociodemographic, clinical, and parametric factors involved in the status of involuntary admission. A retrospective analysis of 292 cases grounded in the Hellenic Police records was conducted to indicate differences between involuntarily and non-hospitalized patients as well as risk and protective factors for the status of compulsory admission in psychiatric units located in Athens, Greece. Out of a total of 292 cases, 240 (77.4%) concerned involuntarily hospitalized patients, compared to 52 (16.8%) non-hospitalized. The most prevalent diagnosis among involuntarily hospitalized patients was schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders (53.5%), in contrast to non-hospitalized patients, for whom it was affective disorders (33.3%). Affective disorders, along with neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders, were found to offer a protective factor against involuntary hospitalizations. Our findings indicate that involuntary hospitalizations are associated with procedural downsides, detrimentally affecting mental health treatment recipients. Therefore, community-based compulsory therapeutic interventions should be incorporated into the mental health agenda of Greece.