Uses of Community Treatment Orders in New Zealand: early findings.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the uses of Community Treatment Orders (CommTOs) in New Zealand.


METHODS
A retrospective study of patients' records held by the regional administrator of mental health legislation and a survey of psychiatrists attending a conference in Dunedin.


RESULTS
Males under Community Treatment Orders (CommTOs) outnumbered females 6:4; a high proportion were considered to have a major psychotic disorder; and one fifth remained under a CommTO for more than a year without inpatient care. Among the psychiatrists, there was a high level of agreement that, when used appropriately, the benefits of CommTOs outweigh their coercive impact on the patients; the most strongly supported indicator for use was the promotion of compliance with medication. The rate of use of CommTOs in Otago is remarkably similar to the rate in Victoria, Australia.


CONCLUSIONS
Records suggest that a significant proportion of patients under CommTOs are not soon readmitted; and many clinicians in New Zealand consider CommTOs to be a useful strategy for managing the community care of long-term patients with schizophrenia and major affective disorders.
Dawson
J
J
Faculty of Law, University of Otago, Po Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. john.dawson@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Romans
S
S
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors