Table 1.
| Country | Essential legal criteria for detention (additional to mental disorder) | Deciding authority for detention order | Mandatory inclusion of patient counsel | Detention for assessment | Maximum length of initial placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Austria | Danger | Non-medical | Yes | 48 hours | 3 months |
| 1Belgium | Danger | Non-medical | Yes | 10 days | 40 days to 2 years |
| 1Denmark | Danger or need for treatment | Medical | Yes | Not separately defined | Not defined |
| 1Finland | Danger or need for treatment | Medical | No | Not separately defined | 9 months |
| 1France | Danger | Non-medical | No | 48 hours | Not defined |
| 1Germany | Danger | Non-medical | No | 24 hours to 3 days | 6 weeks to 2 years |
| 1Greece | Danger or need for treatment | Non-medical | No | 48 hours | 6 months |
| 1Ireland | Danger or need for treatment | Medical | Yes | Not separately defined | 21 days |
| 1Italy | Need for treatment | Non-medical | No | 48 hours | 7 days |
| 1Luxembourg | Danger | Medical | No | 24 hours | 14 days |
| 1Netherlands | Danger | Non-medical | Yes | 24 hours | 3 weeks to 12 months |
| 1Portugal | Danger or need for treatment | Non-medical | Yes | 48 hours | Not defined |
| 1Spain | Need for treatment | Non-medical | No | 24 hours | Not defined |
| 1Sweden | Need for treatment | Medical | No | 24 hours | 4 weeks |
| 1UK | Need for treatment | Non-medical and medical | No | 72 hours | 28 days to 6 months |
| 2Bulgaria | Danger | Non-medical | No | 24 to 48 hours | 34 days to 3 months |
| 2Czech Republic | Danger | Non-medical | No | 24 hours | 3 months |
| 2Lithuania | Danger | Non-medical | No | 48 hours | 1 month |
| 2Slovak Republic | Danger | Non-medical | No | 24 hours | 3 months |
| 2Poland | Danger | Non-medical | No | 48 hours | 10 days to 6 months |