Database of New Zealand mental health research
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How patients in New Zealand view community treatment orders
Investigator(s) / AuthorsAnita Gibbs, John Dawson, Chris Ansley, Richard Mullen
| Principal contact | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dr Richard Mullen |
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Email address is not available; please contact keadmin@tepou.co.nz for more information. |
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| The research | |
| Summary | 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. |
| Objectives | To explore the views of patients with recent experience of community treatment orders. |
| Study design | 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. |
| Methods | Qualitative |
| Results | The majority of patients were generally supportive of 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 the theraputic relationships and the structure provided for community mental health care. |
| Key Descriptors | Intervention/Treatment |
| Disciplines | Multi disciplinary |
| Settings | Outpatient |
| Diagnostic Categories | Psychotic Disorders, Schizophrenia, Other |
| Populations | General Population |
| Other Keywords | Mental health, patients, community treatment orders, outpatient commitment |
| Ethics approval | Yes |
| Academic led | Yes |
| Service led | No |
| How were service users involved | Participants of the research |
| Publication in peer review journal | Yes |
| Supporting information | |
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Page last updated: 7 November 2008