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- Title
Ambulante Behandlungsweisungen - kritische Erörterung der Wirksamkeit und rechtliche Einordnung im Hinblick auf eine menschrechtskonforme Reform der Versorgungsstrukturen.
- Authors
Zinkler, Martin; Weinmann, Stefan; von Peter, Sebastian; Aderhold, Volkmar
- Abstract
In Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany's Länder, the introduction of community treatment orders (CTOs) has recently been suggested. The self-declared aim is to avoid psychiatric hospital admissions and to reduce the risk of violence in mental healthcare. A CTO requires a person to take medication, in particular psychotropic drugs or to stay in treatment on an outpatient basis. In case of non-compliance, the person runs the risk of involuntary hospitalisation and forced medication - even in situations without an actual and severe risk to herself and others. After discussing data on the amount of coercion within the German mental healthcare system and categorizing the arguments for outpatient compulsory treatment measures we comment on the limited evidence on the effectiveness of this instrument: based on several international studies, there is no evidence that CTOs are superior to voluntary community mental healthcare in the reduction of hospital admissions, violence and other adverse effects. We comment on the legal situation regarding outpatient compulsory treatment measures in Germany and the possible or intended group of persons addressed. In conclusion, there are no convincing reasons in favour of the introduction of CTOs. Rather, our considerations demonstrate the need to examine thoroughly the mental healthcare structures as a whole and to put into effect fundamental reforms.
- Publication
Recht & Psychiatrie, 2024, Vol 42, Issue 2, p64
- ISSN
0724-2247
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1486/rp-02-2024_01