Treatment, Mandated Mental Health

Abstract

Mandated mental health treatment in the forms of inpatient and outpatient commitments is utilized to protect individuals from themselves or others from their potentially violent behavior. This entry outlines legal cases that have outlined that forced treatment is a liberty issue, even in the presence of a compelling government interest to force treatment. This entry also reviews specific mechanisms for treatment including mental health courts and even treatment occurring in the context of probation. Evidence supports the idea that mandated treatments are often most effective in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationships. Finally, this entry will focus on how the formation of new collaborations presents both clinical and research opportunities that were previously non‐existent and should be capitalized on as we develop new ideas how to make mandated treatment less invasive.