The purpose of this study was to find out, by means of the medical certificates and patients files, what percentage of the involuntary admissions in the Psychiatric Centre Welterhof was continued by court order. It was also investigated, with regard to a number of variabels, whether patients whose involuntary admission was continued were distinguishable from those with whom this was not the case.

More than half (58%) of the involuntary admissions were not extended. Patients whose involuntary admissions were not contined appeared to differ in characteristics psychotic disorders (fewer) and personality disorders (more). Of patients whose involuntary admissions were not continued 60% preferred to leave the hospital within one week of the judicial decision. The conclusion is made that, for more than one-third of patients, an involuntary admission seems to function as a brief crisis intervention. Further research into the consequences of this for the patients concerned and their environment is desirable.