The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×
No Access

Attitude change concerning right to refuse treatment: the impact of experience

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.142.11.1362

Forty-three medical students completed questionnaires about their attitudes toward the right to refuse treatment at the beginning and end of their psychiatric clerkship, during which time their clinical experience included exposure to involuntary psychiatric treatment. The students had a more favorable view of involuntary treatment after the clerkship; the change in attitudes was statistically significant. The authors hypothesize that the medical students' increased willingness to use seclusion and involuntary neuroleptic medication was due to exposure to agitated violent patients as well as experience with the beneficial effects of neuroleptic medication.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.