A documentary comparative study about the practice of involuntary psychiatric admissions in Germany

Background/Objectives: Germany has one of the highest rates of involuntary psychiatric admissions in Europe, and rates vary substantially among the German Federal States. By and large, these variations are unexplained, even though one might assume them being due to differences between Federal States in psychiatric practice and legal regulations. Furthermore, the constant rise of involuntary psychiatric admissions in Germany during the last two decades is dramatic and also difficult to explain. The aim of the present study is to systematically document and compare of the practice of psychiatric involuntary admiss…