Dobrota Psychiatric Hospital faces overcrowding due to rising court-ordered treatments

The Dobrota Special Psychiatric Hospital in Montenegro is facing significant overcrowding, currently housing 299 patients despite a formal capacity of 233 beds. This surge is driven in part by an increasing number of court-ordered psychiatric treatments.

Ana Bokan, a judge at the Podgorica Misdemeanor Court, noted that mandatory treatment orders are frequently issued in cases involving domestic violence. In 2025, 24 cases resulted in outpatient treatment, while 8 cases required inpatient care at the Dobrota facility. So far this year, 169 judicial cases have been treated, with 144 patients currently remaining in the hospital.

Dr. Jovo Đedović, director of the Dobrota hospital, stated that the rise in judicial patients in Montenegro follows a broader trend observed across other European countries.