Community treatment orders and antipsychotic long-acting injections.
BACKGROUND
The community treatment order (CTO) is the legal framework by which people in the community are compelled to accept treatment. Both antipsychotic long-acting injections (LAIs) and CTOs are used to address treatment non-adherence.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between CTOs and LAI use in patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Prescribing, demographic and CTO data were collected for patients from four community mental health clinics in Melbourne, Australia, in 1998 and 2002.


RESULTS
Against a background of increasing use of oral second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication and decreasing use of LAIs, the rates of CTO implementation doubled from 13% to 26% of patients with schizophrenia between 1998 and 2002. Proportionally more patients with a CTO are prescribed LAIs rather than oral SGAs.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between receiving an LAI and being subject to a CTO is significant, and reflects the consideration given to enhancing adherence in a community mental health setting.
Lambert
Tim J
TJ
Discipline of Psychological Medicine, Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Singh
Bruce S
BS
Patel
Maxine X
MX
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations