title: The long-term effect of outpatient commitment on service use.
abstract: The long-term effect of outpatient commitment on service use was evaluated in 81 patients with serious and persistent mental illness. An increased number of outpatient visits and a decreased number of hospital admissions, total hospital days, and lengths of stay were observed during commitment periods of greater than 1 year relative to levels of use in the same patients over the 12-month period preceding commitment. This study provides support that outpatient commitment improves compliance with outpatient treatment and reduces hospital use in patients who are on outpatient commitment to a single treatment agency for periods up to 5 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Research and Management, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79430, USA. sombmr@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rohland
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rohrer
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D017010:Reminder Systems; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology