Background: Sedation, seclusion or restraint are recognized methods of containing a person experiencing an acute psychotic episode with behavioural disturbance which has not responded to verbal or non-sedating pharmacological interventions. These interventions pose significant ethical and practical challenges to service providers who are responsible for safeguarding the human rights of mental health service users.
Aims: In a collaborative two-phase study between mental health care providers and mental health service users, the perceptions and experiences of a group of service users who have been exposed to sedation, seclusion and restraint were explored.
Method: A focus group was conducted with eight service users. The content of the focus group was transcribed and themes were identified using thematic analysis. These were presented to a second focus group consisting of eight other service users for validation and comment. Based on the results of the focus groups, a questionnaire was developed and administered to a convenience sample of 43 service users in three localities.
Results: Service users reported inadequate communication between them and service providers and perceived that their human rights had been infringed during acute episodes of illness.
Methods: of containment were often seen as punitive rather than therapeutic. Sedation was most frequently used and was considered to be least distressing. Observing methods of forced/involuntary containment caused further distress.
Conclusions: There is a need to humanize service users' experiences during episodes of acute illness. Measures should include prevention of human rights abuses; minimization of isolation and distress; improvement of communication between service providers and service users; and promotion of attitudinal changes which reflect respect for other people's dignity.