Over the past thirty years, involuntary outpatient treatment for individuals with severe mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, has been implemented in nearly every state. However, the effectiveness of these programs remains unclear.
A recent review of New York’s involuntary outpatient treatment initiative adds complexity to the already intricate scientific debate surrounding this form of care. The study found that Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) led to reductions in hospitalizations and arrests, but similar results were also observed with voluntary treatment. The independent authors of the study suggested that New York should allocate more funding to voluntary services, especially in light of reports of coercion and negative impacts experienced under AOT mandates.
“When people are engaged in services, they have better outcomes,” stated Bevin Croft, director of the Human Services Research Institute’s Behavioral Health team and a contributing author of the study. “Whether or not that engagement is voluntary doesn’t seem to make a huge difference.”
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