Post-Incidence Reviews After Involuntary Admissions—A Qualitative Study of Users’ and Professionals’ Experiences

Involuntary psychiatric admissions raise significant ethical concerns, and effective post-admission interventions remain limited. In this qualitative study, we explored how post-incident reviews after involuntary admissions were experienced and facilitated in primary mental health services in two Norwegian municipalities. We developed data through focus groups with service managers and practitioners, and individual interviews with users. We analysed the material thematically using an inductive approach. Participants described post-incident reviews after involuntary admissions as most valuable when delivered flexibly, grounded in established therapeutic relationships, and integrated into routine community-based practice, rather than as rigid, standardised sessions. Further, the reviews were experienced to support user empowerment, foster mutual understanding, strengthen therapeutic relationships, and improve crisis plans and follow-up strategies. Practitioners also reported strengthened ethical awareness, shifts in staff attitudes, and organisational learning. Key challenges included the need to balance structure with clinical flexibility, variability in implementation and limited collaboration with specialist mental health services. Overall, post-incident reviews after involuntary admissions appear feasible and meaningful in primary mental health care and were perceived to help prevent repeated involuntary admissions. Further research should examine implementation across settings and potential effects on coercion rates.