Family perspective on community treatment orders: a New Zealand study.
BACKGROUND
People with serious mental disorders typically live with family members. Despite increasing interest in compulsory community treatment for such patients, the experience and views of their family members have been little studied.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews with 27 family members, whose relatives have been subject to compulsory community treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Family members are generally in favour of the use of compulsory community treatment orders. They perceive a positive influence on their relative, on themselves, on family relationships, and on relations with the clinical team. Family members are aware of the ethical and other dilemmas that attend the use of compulsory community care.
Mullen
Richard
R
Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, New Zealand. richard.mullen@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Gibbs
Anita
A
Dawson
John
J
D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D009520:New Zealand; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012449:Safety