Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:104-107
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
The impact of broadened civil commitment standards on admissions to state mental hospitals
GL Pierce, ML Durham and WH Fisher
In 1979, the state of Washington broadened its criteria governing the
involuntary commitment of the mentally ill. This study examined the impact
of the revised law on involuntary and voluntary admissions and on the type
of patient admitted to state hospitals in Washington. The short-term effect
of the law was an abrupt increase in involuntary commitments, with a
concomitant but not offsetting decline in voluntary admissions. Although
the law resulted in a substantial change in admissions policy, it does not
appear to have altered the type of patient admitted to state mental
hospitals in Washington.
