Outcomes of patients in a low-intensity, short-duration involuntary outpatient commitment program.
This study examined the outcomes of patients in a low-intensity, short-duration involuntary outpatient commitment program. After release from inpatient commitment, one group (N = 150) entered an involuntary outpatient commitment program that lasted up to six months; a comparison group (N = 140) was released into the community without further involuntary care. After the analysis adjusted for confounding variables, patients who were in the involuntary outpatient commitment program had greater use of follow-up outpatient and residential services and psychotropic medications than patients in the comparison group. No differences were found between the groups in follow-up acute psychiatric hospitalization or arrests. Low-intensity, short-duration involuntary outpatient commitment appears to have a limited, but important, impact.
Pollack
David A
DA
Department of Psychiatry at the Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, 97239, USA.
McFarland
Bentson H
BH
Mahler
Jo M
JM
Kovas
Anne E
AE
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016730:Program Development; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome