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Table 2 Attitudes to the use of the Mental Health Act (Valid % responses)

From: Psychiatrists' attitudes towards autonomy, best interests and compulsory treatment in anorexia nervosa: a questionnaire survey

Part B – Questions on mental disorders in general

 

Strongly disagree

Moderately disagree

Slightly disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Slightly agree

Moderately agree

Strongly agree

B8. 'The Mental Health Act should be used more frequently to protect the health and safety of patients.'

9.1

15.3

13.4

35.6

11.3

10.9

4.4

B9. 'The Mental Health Act should not be used when patients are able to make informed treatment decisions, even if they are placing themselves at risk.'

6.3

18.7

16.3

7.4

15.0

24.6

11.6

B10. 'The Mental Health Act should not be used to enforce admission to hospital for mental disorders.'

73.7

18.4

3.2

1.2

0.9

1.3

1.3

B11. 'The Mental Health Act is used too often in the treatment of mental disorders.'

13.3

23.0

14.0

31.1

12.2

4.1

2.4

Part C – Questions specifically on anorexia nervosa:

I. Use of the Mental Health Act for anorexia nervosa

 

Strongly disagree

Moderately disagree

Slightly disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Slightly agree

Moderately agree

Strongly agree

C12. 'The Mental Health Act should not be used when patients clearly believe that the advantages of anorexia nervosa for them outweigh the disadvantages.'

34.2

39.4

11.5

8.3

3.2

2.8

0.6

C13. 'It is appropriate that the Mental Health Act enables compulsory re-feeding of patients with anorexia nervosa.'

1.3

3.2

1.9

3.1

11.5

42.6

36.3

C14. 'The Mental Health Act is used too often in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.'

9.1

20.6

14.0

51.0

3.4

1.3

0.6

C15. 'The Mental Health Act should not be used to enforce admission to hospital for anorexia nervosa.'

42.6

38.2

10.6

4.3

1.9

1.9

0.4

C16. 'The Mental Health Act should be used more frequently to protect the health and safety of patients with anorexia nervosa.'

2.1

8.0

9.3

42.9

14.7

18.3

4.9

IV. The use of the Mental Health Act in anorexia nervosa

'Imagine that you are treating a 19-year old female patient who has anorexia nervosa. She is not able to put on weight in the outpatient treatment setting but is refusing day or inpatient treatment. Each statement below is your clinical judgement of her current situation. Please decide the relative importance of each factor below with respect to the decision your clinical team should make about whether or not to place this patient on a Mental Health Act Section 3.'

 

Not important ↔ Very important

Importance Score

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

E32. 'The patient's physical health is at risk.'

0.1

0.9

1.0

2.7

19.0

37.0

39.3

E33. 'The patient would die if not given treatment.'

0.1

0.4

0.4

1.2

2.6

14.5

80.6

E34. 'The patient is unable to recognise what is in her own best interests.'

1.2

2.8

3.8

11.9

23.4

31.2

25.7

E35. 'The patient is not making choices consistent with her pre-morbid personality or wishes.'

3.1

5.1

8.4

14.0

27.2

22.9

19.4

E36. 'The patient's family is unable to support her in the treatment.'

6.5

12.8

14.0

21.3

22.8

15.0

7.8

E37. 'The patient's family is keen to support use of compulsory treatment.'

11.3

18.4

17.4

22.9

19.4

7.4

3.2

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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

ISSN: 1753-2000