Community treatment orders: how ethical without experimental evidence?

Psychol Med. 2009 Oct;39(10):1583-6. doi: 10.1017/S0033291709005352.

Abstract

Compulsory community treatment orders are a feature of most advanced mental health systems without convincing experimental evidence of benefits. Is it ethical to continue without such evidence ? This paper argues that the responsibility for ensuring it is collected lies as much with Parliament as with researchers.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Commitment of Mentally Ill* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Community Mental Health Services / ethics*
  • Community Mental Health Services / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Humans
  • Mandatory Programs / ethics*
  • Mandatory Programs / legislation & jurisprudence
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom