[Collaboration with patients' family members and representatives: legal perspective and barriers in clinical practice].

Background: In the Compulsory Mental Health Care Act (Wvggz) family members and representatives have a more central position. However, in clinical practice there is a lack of collaboration.

Aim: Giving an overview of the relevant legal texts and analyzing possible reasons for the lack of collaboration.

Method: Discussion of relevant legal texts and publications.

Results: The aim of the Compulsory Mental Health Care Act is to enhance the patients’ rights and rights of their family. In clinical practice it is difficult to find a good collaboration. One problem is that patients’ competence may fluctuate over time. And also confidentiality is seen as an important barrier. Family members also experience tension by fulfilling different roles, especially when they are representative.

Conclusion: Although the Compulsory Mental Health Care Act gives a clear framework for collaboration with family members, the application is complex in clinical practice. The formal possibilities can only be applied, when relations with both patients and their family members are built in trust.