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How patients in New Zealand view community treatment orders

How patients in New Zealand view community treatment orders Background: New Zealand operates a well-embedded community treatment order scheme for patients with serious mental disorders. A similar scheme may be enacted for England and Wales.Aim: To explore the views of patients with recent experience of community treatment orders.Method: All patients in one region under an order in the last 2 years, not readmitted to hospital for at least 6 months, were included, subject to their capacity and consent. Forty-two patients out of 84 potential participants were interviewed.Results: The majority of patients were generally supportive of the community treatment order, especially if the alternative was hospital. Many valued the access to services and sense of security obtained, and attributed improvements in their health to treatment under the order. They also experienced reduced choice about medication and restrictions on residence and travel. For a minority this meant they were strongly opposed to the order, but for most the restrictions did not unduly hinder them. The majority of patients viewed the order as a helpful step towards community stability.Conclusions: The usefulness of community treatment orders is accepted by most patients under them in NZ, as well as by most psychiatrists. Critical factors include the quality of therapeutic relationships and the structure provided for community mental health care. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Mental Health Taylor & Francis

How patients in New Zealand view community treatment orders

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References (22)

Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2005 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted
ISSN
1360-0567
eISSN
0963-8237
DOI
10.1080/09638230500229541
pmid
20540681
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Background: New Zealand operates a well-embedded community treatment order scheme for patients with serious mental disorders. A similar scheme may be enacted for England and Wales.Aim: To explore the views of patients with recent experience of community treatment orders.Method: All patients in one region under an order in the last 2 years, not readmitted to hospital for at least 6 months, were included, subject to their capacity and consent. Forty-two patients out of 84 potential participants were interviewed.Results: The majority of patients were generally supportive of the community treatment order, especially if the alternative was hospital. Many valued the access to services and sense of security obtained, and attributed improvements in their health to treatment under the order. They also experienced reduced choice about medication and restrictions on residence and travel. For a minority this meant they were strongly opposed to the order, but for most the restrictions did not unduly hinder them. The majority of patients viewed the order as a helpful step towards community stability.Conclusions: The usefulness of community treatment orders is accepted by most patients under them in NZ, as well as by most psychiatrists. Critical factors include the quality of therapeutic relationships and the structure provided for community mental health care.

Journal

Journal of Mental Health – Taylor & Francis

Published: Aug 1, 2005

Keywords: Mental health; patients; community treatment orders; outpatient commitment

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