Question

23 y/o admitted in inpatient unit w dx acute psychotic d/o after threatening to beat up his mother (with whom he lives). Agreed to voluntary admit, but 2 days later demands to sign out AMA. What justifies involuntary hospitalization in this patient?

Answer 1

Involuntary hospitalization could be justified for the 23-year-old patient who has an acute psychotic disorder if he is a significant threat to himself or others or is unable to care for himself. Historical precedents, like the case of Vincent van Gogh, show the use of involuntary commitment for individuals posing a danger to the community.

Step-by-step explanation:

Justification for involuntary hospitalization on criteria that assess a patient's risk to themselves or to others. In the case of the 23-year-old patient admitted with an acute psychotic disorder who threatened to harm his mother, involuntary hospitalization might be justified if he continues to pose a significant threat of harm to himself or others, or if he is deemed unable to care for himself because of his mental state.

Historically, involuntary commitment has been used in cases where individuals with mental health conditions were a danger to the community or themselves, as seen in the situation with the artist Vincent van Gogh, who after a series of escalating events, was admitted to the Arles Hospital and later committed himself to a private asylum.

The concern with the current patient's request to sign out Against Medical Advice (AMA) would have to be weighed against the psychiatric evaluation of their capacity to make informed decisions and the likelihood of dangerous behavior recurring.