Lack of motivation for treatment in emergency psychiatry patients

Background A lack of motivation for treatment on the part of patients is a major problem for emergency psychiatric services.Little is known about its determinants. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of treatment motivation in emergency psychiatric patients. Method A cross-sectional study of 719 patients was made. Motivation for treatment and other clinical variables were assessed using the Severity of Psychiatric Illness scale and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Results In all, 47% of patients were not motivated for treatment and they also had severe clinical problems. Lack of motivation was associated with danger to others [odds ratio (OR) 2.03; confidence interval (CI) 1.21–3.40], substance abuse (OR 1.71; CI 1.09–2.67), suspiciousness (OR 1.4; CI 1.19–1.64), grandiosity (OR 1.19; CI 1.01–1.4), anxiety (OR 0.74; CI 0.64–0.86), and GAF score (OR 0.98; CI 0.96–0.99). Conclusions Lack of motivation for treatment is a common phenomenon among severely mentally ill patients seen by emergency psychiatric services. Lack of motivation was associated with danger and paranoid symptoms. Motivational techniques as well as involuntary treatment may help to overcome problems due to lack of motivation in these patients.