THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUTPATIENT CIVIL COMMITMENT

The effects of outpatient civil commitment on community tenure and fun ctioning were studied in a group of 20 patients with a history of recu rrent hospitalizations, noncompliance with outpatient treatment, and g ood response to treatment. During the first 12 months of outpatient co mmitment, patients experienced significant reductions in visits to the psychiatric emergency service, hospital admissions, and lengths of st ay compared with the 12 months before commitment. They significantly i ncreased the number of appointments kept with their psychiatrist. It a ppears that when used judiciously, outpatient civil commitment is a he lpful tool in maintaining hospital recidivists in the community.