[Changes in the Practice of Involuntary Hospitalization During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Experiences and Opinions of Chief Psychiatrists]

Objective To collect experiences and opinions of chief psychiatrists in relation to changes in the practice of involuntary hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Online survey among members of the Association of Chief Physicians for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in North Rhine-Westphalia (LLPP) and analysis of protocols of LLPP board meetings. Results Changes in the practice of involuntary hospitalization have been perceived in contexts with and without direct reference to COVID-19. These changes have affected, among other things, judicial hearings as well as decisions about the use of coercive measures. Conclusion Procedural standards for involuntary hospitalization must be maintained and coercive measures may only be used if they meet the applicable ethical and legal requirements. It must be ensured that people with mental disorders are not treated unequally both when taking and withdrawing restrictive measures to contain the pandemic.