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. 2009 Sep;195(3):257–263. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.059782

Table 2.

Differences between informal participants with and without capacity

Variable Informal capacity (n = 73) Informal incapacity (n = 47) Test statistic P
Treatment refusala
    Mean (s.d.) 6.2 (0.8) 4.7 (1.3) t = -7.77 (d.f. = 118) <0.001
    Range 3-7 2-7
    Median (IQR) 6 (6-7) 5 (4-6)
Experience of admission, median (IQR)
    Perceived coercionb 1 (0-3) 3 (1-4) Mann—Whitney z = 2.7 0.007
    Negative pressuresc 0 (0-1) 1 (0-3) Mann—Whitney z = 4.4 <0.001
    Voiced 3 (2-3) 2 (0-2) Mann—Whitney z = -3.4 <0.001
Recent self-harm, n (%)
    No self-harm 40 (54.8) 34 (72.3) χ2 = 4.4 (d.f. = 2) 0.11
    Minor self-injury 6 (8.2) 1 (2.1)
    Major self-injury or suicide attempt 27 (37.0) 12 (25.5)
Recent violence, n (%)
    No physical aggression 64 (87.7) 40 (85.1) χ2 = 1.4 (d.f. = 2) 0.51
    Physical aggression without causing injury 4 (5.5) 5 (10.6)
    Physical aggression causing injury 5 (6.9) 2 (4.3)
Symptoms,e mean (s.d) 1.8 (0.3) 2.3 (0.6) t = 6.7 (d.f. = 118) <0.001
Relabelling of symptoms as pathological,f mean (s.d) 9.3 (2.5) 4.2 (3.2) t = -9.7 (d.f. = 115) <0.001

IQR, interquartile range.

a. Treatment refusal: 1 (complete rejection), 2 (partial rejection), 3 (reluctant acceptance), 4 (occasional reluctance), 5 (passive acceptance), 6 (moderate participation), 7 (active participation).

b. Perceived coercion: 1 (no perceived coercion), 5 (maximum perceived coercion).

c. Negative pressure: 1 (no negative pressures), 5 (maximum negative pressures).

d. Voice: 1 (no voice) to 3 (full voice).

e. Symptoms: 1 (none).

f. Relabelling: 0 (no ability to relabel symptoms as pathological) to 12 (full ability to relabel symptoms).