RT - Journal Article T1 - The Perspectives of Tehran Psychiatrists on Iranian Mental Health Laws JF - ijpcp YR - 2004 JO - ijpcp VO - 10 IS - 1 UR - http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-106-en.html SP - 44 EP - 49 K1 - Key words:mental health law K1 - mentally ill patients K1 - psychiatrists K1 - mental health K1 - forensic psychiatry AB -  AbstractObjectives: The aim of this project was to appraise the perspectives of Tehran psychiatrists on exist- ing mental health laws. Method: 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.Findings: 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 acknow-ledged 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 psy-chiatrists 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. Results: The laws related to national mental health are deficient in the perspectives of psychi-atrists. LA eng UL http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-106-en.html M3 ER -