Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T03:31:48.472Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Current issues in Scandinavian acute psychiatric wards

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2011

Torleif Ruud ,
Nils Lindefors  and
Anne Lindhardt
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of some of the most important issues faced by acute inpatient facilities in three Scandinavian countries, including reflections and critical remarks for discussion in this field. Information was drawn from scientific articles and official reports published in recent years, as well as the authors' own knowledge of acute facilities in their home countries. Acute inpatient facilities, including General Hospital Psychiatric Units (GHPUs), in all Scandinavian countries have several issues and problems in common, which include the organisation and capacity of acute services, the assessment of dangerousness and suicidality, the use of coercion and efforts to reduce coercion, the need to define and improve the quality of acute services, and the necessity to improve collaboration and continuity between acute services and other services. Although the emphasis some of these issues receive can vary across the three countries, Scandinavian mental health professionals (and policy makers) have begun to systematically share their experiences in developing a growing spirit of collaboration. Despite the role of welfare state and the deployment of substantial resources in Scandinavian countries, mental health practitioners are struggling to implement best practices in acute wards, to develop differentiated forms of acute services, and to reach the right balance and coordination between acute services and other services.

Type
Editorials
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , June 2006 , pp. 99 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

References

REFERENCES

Berg, J.E. & Johnsen, E. (2004). [Are immigrants admitted to emergency psychiatric departments more often than ethnic Norwegians?]. Tidsskr. Nor Laegeforen. 124 (5), 634–636.Google Scholar
Bjørngaard, J. & Heggestad, T. (2001). [Can case-mix explain differences in involuntary admissions to Norwegian psychiatric hospitals?] Kan ulik pasientsammensetning forklare forskjeller i tvangsinnleggelser? Tidsskr. Nor Laegeforen. 121 (29), 3369–3374.Google Scholar
Gråwe, R. & Ruud, T. (2005). [Alternative acute services in mental health services for adults] Alternative akuttilbud i psykisk helsevern for voksne. Tidsskr. Nor Laegeforen. 125 (23), 3265–3268.Google Scholar
Gråwe, R. & Ruud, T. (2006). [Substance abuse and mental disorders in mental health services for adults] Rus og psykiske lidelser i psykisk helsevern for voksne. SINTEF rapport STF78 A06003. SINTEF Helse: Trondheim/Oslo.Google Scholar
Hagen, H. & Ruud, T. (2005). [Inpatients in mental health services for adults November 20th 2003] Pasienter i psykisk helsevern for voksne 20 november 2003. SINTEF Rapport STF78 A045026. SINTEF Helse: Trondheim.Google Scholar
Helsetilsynet, (2006). [Use of coercion in the metnal health services] Bruk av tvang i psykisk helsevern. Oslo, [Norwegian Board of Health] Helsetilsynet. Ref Type: Pamphlet.Google Scholar
Høyer, G., Kjellin, L., Engberg, M., Kaltiala-Heino, R., Nilstun, T., Sigusjonsdottir, M. & Syse, A. (2002). Paternalism and autonomy: A presentation of a Nordic study on the use of coercion in the mental health care system. Internationaljournal of Law Psychiatry 25, 93–108.Google Scholar
Hummelvoll, J. & Severinsson, E. (2001). Coping with everyday reality: Mental health professionals' reflections on the care provided in an acute psychiatric ward. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing 10, 156–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kalseth, J. E. (2005). [Samdata Mental Health Services. Report for 2004. Comparative data on the mental health services.] Samdata psykisk helsevern. Sektorrapport 2004. Sammenligningsdata for psykisk helsevern. SINTEF Report 2/05. SINTEF Helse: Trondheim.Google Scholar
Kramp, P. & Gabrielsen, G. (2005). [Forensic patients - development 2000–2004] Retspsykiatriske pasienter-udvikling 2000–2004. Ugeskr. Laeger 167(47), 4469–4472.Google Scholar
Mathisen, J. & Føyn, P.R. (2002). [Use of coercion. Report from the breaking-through-project in psychiatry] Bruk av tvang. Rapport fra Gjennombruddsprosjekt psykiatri. [Norwegian Medical Association] Den norské legeforeningen: Oslo. Ref Type: PamphletGoogle Scholar
[Regional statistics] (2006). Amtrådsforeningens Statistikbase. Amtrådsforeningen, Denmark. Internet Communication.Google Scholar
[Report on the health services 2005] (2005). Hälso- och sjukvårdsrap-port 2005. Socialstyrelsen: Stockholm.Google Scholar
[Use of coercion in mental health services 2004 (preliminary figures)] (2006). Andendelsen af tvang i psykiatrien 2004 (foreløbige tall). Copenhagen, Nye tall fra Sunhedsstyreisen 2005:18 [New figures from the National Board of Health 2005:18].Google Scholar