title: Involuntary outpatient treatment (IOT) in Spain.
abstract: In recent decades there have been significant legislative changes in Spain. Society develops faster than laws, however, and new challenges have emerged. In 2004, the Spanish Association of Relatives of the Mentally Ill (FEAFES) proposed amending the existing legislation to allow for the implementation of involuntary outpatient treatment (IOT) for patients with severe mental illness. Currently, and after having made several attempts at change, there is no specific legislation governing the application of this measure. Although IOT may be implemented in local programmes, we consider legal regulation to be needed in this matter.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Viadel
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cañete-Nicolás
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Medical-Legal Institute of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellido-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asensio-Pascual
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Hospital De La Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: guillemlera@gmail.com.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lera-Calatayud
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calabuig-Crespo
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leal-Cercós
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010045:Outpatients; D013030:Spain
keywords: Involuntary outpatient treatment; Serious mental disease