[ perspectives of Tehran psychiatrists on Iranian mental health laws]

ABSTRACT

The aim of this project was to appraise the perspectives of Tehran psychiatrists on existing mental health laws. A questionnaire was provided either via mail or in person to 312 psychiatrists working in Tehran; 160 of them responded. Data were analyzed by descriptive-statistical methods. Data obtained from the age groups of under and over 40 years old as well as male and female groups were studied. 20% of psychiatrists are not aware of the existing laws; over 75% of them have encountered legal difficulties during their profession; more than 70% of them acknowledged that the existing laws are insufficient. The research showed that female psychiatrists have faced legal difficulties 12% more than their male counterparts in their profession. 78% of all psychiatrists believed that there are not any standards for the protection of mentally ill patients and near 69% alleged that the judicial system has not secured any laws in support of the psychiatrists. 62% of respondents claimed that existing laws regarding hospitalization and discharge of mentally ill patients are inadequate. The laws related to national mental health are deficient in the perspectives of psychiatrists