Informal coercion as a neglected form of communication in psychiatric settings in Germany and Switzerland.

Elmer T; Rabenschlag F; Schori D; Zuaboni G; Kozel B; Jaeger S; Mahlke C; Heumann K; Theodoridou A; Jaeger M

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.09.014

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Journal article

Informal coercion as a neglected form of communication in psychiatric settings in Germany and Switzerland.

Elmer T Department of Development and Research in Nursing, Therapies and Social Work, Psychiatric Hospitals of the University of Basel, Switzerland; Chair of Social Networks, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Rabenschlag F Department of Development and Research in Nursing, Therapies and Social Work, Psychiatric Hospitals of the University of Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: Franziska.rabenschlag@upkbs.ch.
Schori D Directorate of Nursing, Therapies and Social Work, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Switzerland.
Zuaboni G Department of Nursing Development, Private Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Kilchberg, Switzerland.
Kozel B Nursing and Social Education Research Unit, University of Berne, Psychiatric Services, Berne, Switzerland.
Jaeger S Centers for Psychiatry Suedwuerttemberg, Clinic for Psychiatry und Psychotherapy I, University of Ulm, Germany.
Mahlke C Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
Heumann K Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.
Theodoridou A Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Centre for Acute Psychiatric Disorders, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Switzerland.
Jaeger M Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Centre for Acute Psychiatric Disorders, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Switzerland.

2017-09-30

Published in:

Psychiatry research. - 2018

English AIMS
Informal coercion is a frequently used form of communication among mental health professionals to influence treatment outcomes. This study investigates the recognition, attitude, and application of different forms of informal coercion by mental health professionals.

METHODS
Mental health professionals of five psychiatric institutions in Germany and Switzerland (n = 424) took part in an online survey assessing the recognition of, attitudes towards, and application of different forms of informal coercion.

RESULTS
Mental health professionals did not recognize the extent of informal coercion adequately; especially stronger forms were underestimated. Recognition and application of informal coercion was predicted by attitudes towards coercion. Furthermore, there were differences between profession of participants regarding the recognition and application of informal coercion.

CONCLUSIONS
It is important to realize that the extent of applied informal coercion in therapeutic communication is often not recognized by practitioners, although it might interfere with a sound therapeutic relationship.

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