The review panel process: interpretation of the findings and recommendations.

In a series of three studies, the present authors and others in this research group have examined the Review Panel process: (a) before the hearing (which patients apply for a hearing?); (b) at the hearing (how do the patients released by the Panel differ from those retained by the Panel and; (c) after the hearing, how are the Panel-released patients faring one and two years after being released by the Panel, compared to patients released by the attending psychiatrist?) In the present paper, the findings of these three studies are summarized and an attempt is made to explain the findings, some of which are surprising (for example, the 35% disagreement between Panel and attending physician with respect to suitability for discharge and the finding that Panel-released patients survive as long in the community as do physician-discharged patients). Based on the findings and the interpretation placed on them, the authors make a series of recommendations with respect to the operation of Panels, the management of defiant involuntary patients and future research in this area.