In Japan, the involuntary outpatient treatment system like the Community Treatment Order is defined only in the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act 2005. However, in our outreach approach activities in the community, our treatment may seem to be involuntary intervention for some patients, and, occasionally, we actually have to perform involuntary intervention in certain cases. Some patients do not even agree with our visit, and some agree with our visit but not with medication. Some patients do not take medication in spite of their agreement. In this paper, I introduce some cases of our outreach approach activities and discuss the merit and demerit of involuntary intervention in community psychiatric care. The involuntary hospitalization system is being assessed, but involuntary intervention with an outreach approach has not been assessed or discussed well so far. We should discuss and try to develop rules for involuntary psychiatric intervention with an outreach approach.
Involuntary Psychiatric Intervention in Community Mental Health
Mental Health and Welfare Center of Okayama City
Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica
115: 751-758, 2013
<Keywords:community health care, involuntary psychiatric intervention, outreach, Community Treatment Order>