Involuntary and voluntary psychiatric patients: a pilot study of resource consumption.
This pilot study compares the resources utilized caring for "voluntary" and "involuntary" patients in a community hospital inpatient psychiatric unit. "Voluntary" patients committed less episodes of violence. "Emergency involuntaries" experienced more episodes of restraint and were involved in more violent episodes than "other involuntaries". A critical predictor of behavior was whether patients were brought to the hospital by police. Implications for public policy and psychiatric DRGs (diagnosis related groups) are discussed.
Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗