INVOLUNTARY ADMISSION IN TWO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS FROM DIFFERENT CATCHMENT AREAS IN CROATIA SIX MONTHS AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OFTHE LAW ON MENTAL HEALTH Vera FOLNEGOVI]-[MALC Psychiatric Hospital Vrap~e, Zagreb Tajana LJUBIN Police Academy, Zagreb Suzana UZUN Psychiatric Hospital Vrap~e, Zagreb Vesna [ENDULA-JENGI] Psychiatric Hospital Rab, Rab UDK: 614:616.89 616.89:34 Izvorni znanstveni rad Primljeno: 17.3.1999. The aim of the study was to investigate involuntary admissions in two psychiatric hospitals from different catchment areas in Croatia, six months after the Law on Mental Health was passed. Medical records were surveyed in the six-month period. The sample comprised 380 men and 335 women hospitalized voluntarily, and 48 men and 125 women hospitalized involuntarily. The results showed a higher prevalence of involuntary hospitalization in the Psychiatric Hospital Rab, in comparison to the University Department of the Psychiatric Hospital Vrap~e. Most patients from both hospitals had the final diagnosis of psychosis. Although there were some differences between the two hospitals regarding factors distinguishing involuntary from voluntary patients, the most consistent factor related to involuntary hospitalization was "being female". Requests for reprints should be sent to Vera Folnegovi}- [malc, Psihijatrijska bolnica Vrap~e, Bolni~ka 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. 103 