Treatment orders are effective Royal Ottawa study finds

Community Action, March 21, 2005

OTTAWA -- Community Treatment Orders are effective tools for allowing patients to live in the least restrictive setting possible while they receive diverse services, according to an article, "Community Treatment Orders: Profile of a Canadian Experience" published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, Feb. 2004.

The study is based on a population sociodemographic and health care use patterns at the Royal Ottawa Hospital.

The report indicates that the issuance of CTOS is associated with:

* a statistically significant reduction in the number and length of hospital admissions;

* increased use of supportive community-based services and supportive housing; and

* reduced rates of and lengths of readmission to hospital.

The researchers are: Ann-Marie A O'Brien, MSW, RSW1, Susan J Farrell, PhD, CPsych2.