Are community treatment orders counterproductive?

Abstract

Objective: This article briefly reviews the literature pertaining to community treatment orders (CTOs) specifically how and why they are utilised and how effective mandated community treatment really is. This review discusses the use of CTOs in the context of the recovery model.

Conclusions: This article highlights the shortfalls in the current CTO system while also demonstrating the increase in acute coercive care. The literature pertaining to the effectiveness of CTOs is inconsistent with more recent reviews denoting that there is now robust evidence the CTOs are not effective. Further treatment that aligns with the recovery model as oppose to mandated treatment is known to increase treatment compliance.

Keywords: Coercive care; Community treatment orders; Recovery model.