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Involuntary outpatient commitment, community treatment orders, and assisted outpatient treatment: what's in the data?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Swartz, MS; Swanson, JW
Published in: Can J Psychiatry
September 2004

OBJECTIVE: Involuntary outpatient commitment (OPC), also referred to as community treatment orders or assisted outpatient treatment, is a legal intervention intended to improve treatment adherence among persons with serious mental illness. This paper reviews the empirical literature on the procedure's effectiveness. METHODS: We identified and reviewed all English-language studies of OPC and related procedures available in Medline and other bibliographic search services. RESULTS: Existing naturalistic and quasi-experimental studies, taken as a whole, moderately support the view that the procedure is effective, although all do have methodological limitations. Two randomized controlled studies of OPC have conflicting findings and are reviewed in detail. CONCLUSIONS: On balance, empirical studies support the view that OPC is effective under certain conditions, although some of the evidence has been contested and the policy remains controversial.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Can J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0706-7437

Publication Date

September 2004

Volume

49

Issue

9

Start / End Page

585 / 591

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Psychiatry
  • New Zealand
  • Mental Disorders
  • Israel
  • Humans
  • Community Psychiatry
  • Community Mental Health Services
  • Commitment of Mentally Ill
 

Citation

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Swartz, M. S., & Swanson, J. W. (2004). Involuntary outpatient commitment, community treatment orders, and assisted outpatient treatment: what's in the data? Can J Psychiatry, 49(9), 585–591. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370404900903
Swartz, Marvin S., and Jeffrey W. Swanson. “Involuntary outpatient commitment, community treatment orders, and assisted outpatient treatment: what's in the data?Can J Psychiatry 49, no. 9 (September 2004): 585–91. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370404900903.
Swartz, Marvin S., and Jeffrey W. Swanson. “Involuntary outpatient commitment, community treatment orders, and assisted outpatient treatment: what's in the data?Can J Psychiatry, vol. 49, no. 9, Sept. 2004, pp. 585–91. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/070674370404900903.
Journal cover image

Published In

Can J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0706-7437

Publication Date

September 2004

Volume

49

Issue

9

Start / End Page

585 / 591

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Psychiatry
  • New Zealand
  • Mental Disorders
  • Israel
  • Humans
  • Community Psychiatry
  • Community Mental Health Services
  • Commitment of Mentally Ill