Evaluation of compulsory ambulatory treatment in Israel

The effectiveness of Israel's compulsory ambulatory treatment order was eva luated based on a one-year follow-up of the 326 orders served during the fi rst four years of implementation, Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, a nd legal data were obtained from patient records. Success:was defined as co ntinuous treatment for the entire six-month period of compulsory ambulatory treatment, or as voluntary hospitalization during or after;the compulsory treatment period, The compulsory ambulatory treatment order was found, to b e efficacious in 43.3 percent of the cases; in 32.5 percent it did not succ eed in preventing compulsory hospitalization, and in the remaining cases (2 2.1 percent), success was partial.