Mobility in Psychiatry, an Alternative to Forced Hospitalization?

Abstract

Background: The number of forced hospitalizations has increased across Europe. One way to reduce these is to set up mobile crisis teams. A reform of psychiatry in Belgium allowed the creation of these mobile teams. These offer an alternative to forced hospitalization.

Subjects and methods: 196 situations were referred to the mobile crisis team located east of Brussels in 2017. We examined the orientation of these requests according to the applicants and the reasons for them.

Results: It appears that the health sector has the best indications for using the mobile crisis team.

Conclusion: Access to psychiatric care is of major importance in Western societies. The creation of mobile teams increases this accessibility and should reduce the need for forced hospitalizations. These observations must be confirmed.