Introduction to Psychiatric Advance Directives

A Psychiatric advance directive (PAD), sometimes referred to as a mental health advance directive, is a document that outlines what an individual would like to have happen if at some time in the future they are judged incompetent or otherwise deemed unable to make decisions for themselves or effectively communicate those decisions.  The PAD can inform others about the treatment the individual does or doesn’t want from psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, and it can specify a person to whom they have given the authority to make decisions on their behalf.

The following link is to the National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives:

http://www.nrc-pad.org/ 

And this link is to a brochure developed by the Division of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) that provides basic information about PADs:

 

http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dbhs/Documents/DBHS%20Website%20-%20Psychiatric%20Advance%20Directive%20brochure%20(consumers)%20June%202011.pdf