[Advance directives in patients with mental disorders. Scope, prerequisites for validity, and clinical implementation]

Abstract

Since 1 September 2009, advance directives are regulated by law in Germany. This article discusses ethical challenges of advance directives in patients with mental disorders. Besides concrete information on the preferred medical treatment in concrete clinical situations, the mental capacity of the patient at the time of issuing the directive is essential. The "Decisional Competence Assessment Tool for Psychiatric Advance Directives" and empirical studies from the USA on advance directives in patients with mental disorders and the assessment by the treating psychiatrists of these patient directives are discussed. Ethical conclusions are drawn for handling advance directives in psychiatric practice.