%0 Journal Article
%T The impact of context on assessments of mental capacity by psychiatrists
%J Journal of mental health
%D 2007
%A Olumoroti, O.J.
%A Kassim, A.
%A Hotopf, M.
%V 16
%N 4
%P 521-528
%X BACKGROUND: The assessment of mental capacity in patients who have self harmed is often difficult. Contextual factors may influence judgements on mental capacity. Aims: To determine the proportion of consultant psychiatrists who judge a self harming patient described in a vignette likely to have mental capacity, and to test the hypothesis that judgements are influenced by contextual factors which should not necessarily influence mental capacity. <br><br>METHOD: Four hundred and four consultant psychiatrists were randomized to receive one of four vignettes describing a woman who took a serious paracetamol overdose and required liver transplantation. <br><br>RESULTS: Seventy percent of questionnaires were returned. Forty-nine percent of participants thought that the patient lacked mental capacity. There was no statistically significant effect of vignette on judgement of mental capacity (p =.4). Psychiatric speciality of the participants influenced capacity judgements (p =.06), with old age psychiatrists being least likely to judge her as lacking capacity (36%) and psychotherapists being most likely to do so (80%). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that clinicians' assessments of capacity are not greatly influenced by context, but that psychiatric speciality has some impact. Declaration of interest: None. © Shadowfax Publishing and Informa UK Ltd.<p /><p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Informa Healthcare
%@ 0963-8237
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638230701482337