What happens when effective outpatient civil commitment is terminated?
Creator
Munetz M R; Grande T; Kleist J; Peterson G A; Vuddagiri S
Publisher
New directions for mental health services
Date
1997
1997
Description
Outpatient civil commitment can be effective in slowing the revolving door for selected patients, but it may not be the best mechanism for ensuring treatment over time.
The effects of outpatient civil commitment on community tenure and functioning were studied in a group of 20 patients with a history of recurrent hospitalizations, noncompliance with outpatient treatment, and good response to treatment. During the first 12 months of outpatient commitment, patients experienced significant reductions in visits to the psychiatric emergency service, hospital admissions, and lengths of stay compared with the 12 months before commitment. They significantly increased the number of appointments kept with their psychiatrist. It appears that when used judiciously, outpatient civil commitment is a helpful tool in maintaining hospital recidivists in the community.
Subject
Environmental & Occupational; Health; Health Care Sciences & Services; involuntary; Psychiatry; Public