Tratamiento ambulatorio involuntario (TAI) para personas con enfermedad mental grave

Involuntary outpatient treatment is believed to increase adherence, thereby preventing deterioration and harm to people with severe mental illness or to others. Involuntary treatment remains controversial. In addition to arguments for and against the introduction of involuntary outpatient treatment, the results of published studies are contradictory. Most observational studies report patient improvement, although methodological limitations cast doubt on these results. Two randomized studies suggest that outpatient commitment is only effective when linked to the provision of intensive community services. In this article we review this topic, including the current situation in Spain.