What is the value of Forensic Orders?

Abstract

We read with interest the recent study by Harris et al. (2018). Using data from more than 5000 patients under community treatment order (CTO), the authors found that CTOs were effective in (1) reducing readmission rates, (2) increasing the time to their first readmission and (3) reducing the number of hospital admissions. In the accompanying debate piece, Ryan (2018) draws less optimistic conclusions about the clinical significance of these findings: Ten people would need to be treated involuntarily in the community to avoid one fewer admission, and 48 would need to be treated involuntarily to prevent future readmission for a single patient.