The effectiveness of outpatient civil commitment
Abstract
The effects of outpatient civil commitment on community tenure and functioning were studied in a group of 20 patients with a history of recurrent hospitalizations, noncompliance with outpatient treatment, and good response to treatment. During the first 12 months of outpatient commitment, patients experienced significant reductions in visits to the psychiatric emergency service, hospital admissions, and lengths of stay compared with the 12 months before commitment. They significantly increased the number of appointments kept with their psychiatrist. It appears that when used judiciously, outpatient civil commitment is a helpful tool in maintaining hospital recidivists in the community.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).