Outpatient commitment

Outpatient commitment—also known as Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) or Community Treatment Orders (CTOs)—is a civil procedure in which a judge orders an individual diagnosed with severe mental illness to adhere to a mental health treatment plan while living in the community.

Overview

Outpatient commitment is used for individuals who have a history of noncompliance with voluntary treatment, repeated hospitalizations, and who pose a risk to themselves or others. The goal of outpatient commitment is to prevent the individual from deteriorating to the point of needing inpatient commitment.

Legal Aspects

Outpatient commitment laws vary by jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions, outpatient commitment is court-ordered, while in others it is ordered by a mental health professional. The individual under outpatient commitment is typically required to comply with a treatment plan, which may include taking prescribed medications, attending therapy sessions, and abstaining from drugs or alcohol.

Effectiveness

Research on the effectiveness of outpatient commitment is mixed. Some studies have found that outpatient commitment can reduce hospitalizations and arrests among individuals with severe mental illness, while others have found no significant effect.

Criticisms

Critics of outpatient commitment argue that it infringes on individual rights and that voluntary treatment is more effective. They also argue that outpatient commitment can lead to overuse of medication and underuse of other forms of treatment.

See Also

• Involuntary commitment
• Mental health law
• Mental Health Act

Outpatient commitment Resources
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