A cross sectional study on the patients and their care givers response to the concept of psychiatric advance directive

BACKGROUND: In mental healthcare act 2017 Psychiatric advance directive have been incorporated. Data about their awareness and utility among Indian settings were minimal. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To assess as well as compare the attitude, awareness, willingness and the possible treatment options made by the persons with mental illness and their care givers response, to the concept of psychiatric advance directive. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study conducted for a period of 6 months in department of psychiatry, Govt Rajaji hospital Madurai. 50 Patients and their care givers who are having schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder on regular treatment for the past 3 months are selected in inpatient and outpatient services and assessed using semi structured questionnaire containing sociodemographic details, questions regarding the attitude and treatment choices made in respect to advance directive, capacity assessment form given by NIMHANS, BPRS scale and Birchwood insight scale. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Two third of the patients don’t have the awareness and majority of them have willingness to make psychiatric advance directive. About two third of the patients and their caregivers refused ECT and admissions. Among the patients who have accepted admission and ECT, majority of them are symptomatic patients and their caregivers. Hence awareness about psychiatric advance directive is necessary to reduce the morbidity in patients