Outpatient civil commitment of the mentally ill: An overview and an update

Abstract

Abstract Civil commitment to outpatient psychiatric treatment has only recently become the subject of significant discussion, not only in the professional literature, but also in state legislatures and mental health departments. Task Forces from the American Psychiatric Association and the National Center for State Courts have drafted detailed reports on outpatient commitment, and a growing number of states have modified their statutes and regulations governing the process. The author presents the existing research literature on outpatient commitment in practice, reports recent statutory developments, and discusses specific areas of concern for those planning to propose or implement new procedures, including the right to refuse treatment, confidentiality, and the duty to warn or protect third parties.