[A prospective analysis of coercive measures in an inpatient department of child and adolescent psychiatry]. / Eine prospektive Untersuchung von Zwangsmassnahmen in der stationären Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie.

So far the discussion of coercive measures in the work with children and adolescents relies more on individual experiences than on empirical data. In the department of child and adolescent psychiatry "Die Weissenau" all coercive measures in the past six years have been evaluated prospectively. 178 patients (9.2 %) of 1939 patients totally admitted between 1999 and 2004 received coercive measures. For each measure there was a documentation of personal data, reason and duration of the coercive measure. The proportion of patients affected by coercive measures in this department was lower compared to other studies. Female patients were more often subject to coercive measures. Mostly coercive measures were used in the means of protection against self-directed aggressive behaviour. The average duration of coercive measures has been reduced after the implementation of a stringent documentation system and ensuing discussions of the topic. It can be concluded that a stringent documentation, an evaluation and reflection of coercive measures can help to assume quality in the process of coercive measures.