TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - The impact of context on assessments of mental capacity by psychiatrists
JO  - Journal of mental health
A1  - Olumoroti, O.J.
A1  - Kassim, A.
A1  - Hotopf, M.
SP  - 521
EP  - 528
VL  - 16
IS  - 4
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0963-8237
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638230701482337
ID  - ref1
ER  -