1. Opportunities and challenges of self-​binding directives: An interview study with mental health service users and professionals in the Netherlands.

    Melle, A. L. Ham, Y. Voskes, G. M. Scholten 2023. Opportunities and challenges of self-​binding directives: An interview study with mental health service users and professionals in the Netherlands.  BMC Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2421.

    Findings converged on many points. Perceived opportunities of SBDs include promotion of autonomy, avoidance of personally defined harms, early intervention, reduction of admission duration, improvement of the therapeutic relationship, involvement of persons of trust, avoidance of involuntary hospital admission, addressing trauma, destigmatization of involuntary treatment, increase of professionals’ confidence, and relief for proxy decision-makers. Perceived challenges include lack of awareness and knowledge, lack of support, undue influence, inaccessibility during crisis, lack of cross-agency coordination, problems of interpretation, difficulties in capacity assessment, restricted therapeutic flexibility, scarce resources, disappointment due to noncompliance, and outdated content. Stakeholders tended to focus on practical challenges and did not often raise fundamental ethical concerns.