First Advisor

Hugo Maynard

Term of Graduation

Fall 1977

Date of Publication

11-15-1977

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Language

English

Subjects

Mentally ill -- Commitment and detention, Psychiatric hospitals -- Admission and discharge

DOI

10.15760/etd.2561

Physical Description

1 online resource (3, iv, 49 pages)

Abstract

A comparison of the voluntary and involuntary patients at Dammasch State Hospital, Wilsonville, Oregon. A representative sample of cases over time, were chosen for the year 1976, 72 voluntary and 72 involuntary patients. One-hundred and twelve variables were coded onto sheets for each patient. The variables concerned marital status, job history, history of violent acts, present living situations and relationships, as well as drug history and diagnosis and treatment in the hospital. The data were coded onto cards and a computer analysis was done using Factor and Discriminant Function Analysis. It was hypothesized the populations of persons voluntarily admitted and involuntarily committed would be different in several ways. (A) The population of involuntarily committed persons would have more anti-social aggression in their histories. This hypothesis was partially supported by the data. (B) Persons involuntarily committed would have significantly fewer relationships with persons in the community and fewer ties to persons they support financially or emotionally or that support them emotionally or financially. (C) Involuntarily committed persons would have less successful job histories. (D) The involuntary population was more likely to have alcoholism as a secondary diagnosis. (E) The involuntary population was more likely to have experienced violence in their homes, while children.

In the factor which contained the variable 'commitment' there were no elements of a history of dangerousness. The only significant correlation with commitment was 'prescription of phenothiazines in the hospital'; this result may point to the use of drugs as 'chemical restraints'. No other variable which indicated relationships, job history, social status, or dangerousness correlated significantly with commitment. These were the most important findings in the study.

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Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/16181

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