Compulsory psychiatric treatment in the community. II. A controlled study of patients whom psychiatrists would recommend for compulsory treatment in the community.
Several English consultant psychiatrists were asked to identify which patients currently under their care they would recommend for treatment with a community treatment order, if such a provision existed. The psychiatrists were asked to match each such 'nominated' patient for age, sex and diagnosis with one or two control patients, not considered to require compulsory treatment in the community. From specific data collected, it was found that: the two groups did not differ in their 'lifetime' histories of psychiatric admissions, substance misuse, criminal charges or dangerousness; 65-72% of the total sample had a history of serious dangerousness; but in the 12 months before nomination, the 'nominated' patients were significantly less likely than the controls to have complied with psychiatric treatment, and more likely to have defaulted from follow-up. The results indicate that a psychiatrist's decision to recommend a patient for treatment with a community treatment order will depend predominantly on specific criteria related to the patient's recent past.
Sensky
T
T
Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School.
Hughes
T
T
Hirsch
S
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012917:Social Adjustment