Psychiatric Advance Directives
A recent study reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry (November 2006) indicates there is a “high potential demand for psychiatric advance directives but low completion rates.” As per the study, only 4 to 13 percent of outpatients receiving public sector mental health treatment indicate that they have executed a psychiatric advance directive. However, when access to a facilitated session was provided, 61 percent of participants completed a psychiatric advance directive.
As noted in this study, currently very few mental health facilities provide these types of development sessions. However, for those interested in developing their own Psychiatric advance directive, the National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives provides a webcast for assisting with this. Article Abstract | Webcast
Comments
this is a very good idea. when i was hospitalized 3 times in 1 1/2 yrs i had no say in what treatment plan was best for me. of course this made me pissed off so i tend to avoid the docs unless i need my meds refilled. there is more to treatment than stuffing 100 pills down my throat every day.