Outpatient commitmentLegal power to control behavior of mental health patients while in the community Outpatient commitment—also called assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) or community treatment orders (CTO)—refers to a civil court procedure wherein a legal process orders an individual diagnosed with a severe mental disorder to adhere to an outpatient treatment plan designed to prevent further deterioration or recurrence that is harmful to themselves or others.
Psychiatric hospitalA psychiatric hospital, also known as a mental health hospital, a behavioral health hospital, or an asylum is a specialized medical facility that focuses on the treatment of severe mental disorders. These institutions cater to patients with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and eating disorders, among others. OverviewPsychiatric hospitals vary considerably in size and classification.
Mental disorderMedical conditionA mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness, a mental health condition, or a psychiatric disability, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. A mental disorder is also characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior, often in a social context.Involuntary treatmentInvoluntary treatment or mandatory treatment refers to medical treatment undertaken without the consent of the person being treated. Involuntary treatment is permitted by law in some countries when overseen by the judiciary through court orders; other countries defer directly to the medical opinions of doctors. Globally and even within countries, what is meant by the term "involuntary treatment" is not agreed upon.Obligatory Dangerousness CriterionThe obligatory dangerousness criterion is a principle present in the mental health law of many developed countries. It mandates evidence of dangerousness to oneself or to others before involuntary treatment for mental illness. The term "dangerousness" refers to one's ability to hurt oneself or others physically or mentally within an imminent time frame, and the harm caused must have a long-term effect on the person(s).Mental health triageMental health triage is a clinical function conducted at the point of entry to health services that aims to assess and classify the urgency and priority of action of mental health related problems. Mental health triage services may be located in the Emergency Department, community or outpatient facilities, on a telephone support line, or in a facility with other specialist mental health services.Anti-psychiatryAnti-psychiatry, sometimes spelled antipsychiatry, analyzes, questions, and opposes both the theoretical foundations and the practices of psychiatry. The term anti-psychiatry was coined in 1912, and the movement emerged in the 1960s, highlighting controversies about psychiatry.
Habeas corpusHabeas corpus () is a legal procedure invoking the jurisdiction of a court to determine whether a detention or imprisonment is lawful. The right to petition for a writ of habeas corpus has long been celebrated as a fundamental safeguard of individual liberty. Habeas corpus is generally enforced via writ, and accordingly referred to as a writ of habeas corpus.
CourtA court (or court of law) is an institution, often a government entity, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and administer justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. Courts generally consist of judges or other judicial officers, and are usually established and dissolved through legislation enacted by a legislature.
Psychoactive drugChemical substance that alters brain functionAn assortment of commonly used psychoactive drugs, including both street drugs and medications (alcohol and caffeine omitted): CocaineCrack cocaineMethylphenidate (Ritalin)EphedrineMDMA (ecstasy)Peyote (mescaline)LSD blotterPsilocybin mushroom (Psilocybe cubensis)Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) (Unscheduled drug)Amanita muscaria mushroom (muscimol) (Unscheduled drug)Salvia divinorum (salvinorin A)Tylenol 3 (acetaminophen/codeine)Codeine with muscle relaxantPipe tobacco (nicotine) (Unscheduled drug)Bupropion (Wellbutrin)Cannabis (THC)Hashish (THC)Coffee (containing caffeine) being consumed in a social environment; caffeine is widely legal virtually everywhere worldwide making it the most commonly used psychoactive drug.Depiction of alcohol and tobacco (containing nicotine) being used, both of which are commonly legal psychoactive drugs.Chart of relative harmfulness of some psychoactive substancesA psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, mind-altering drug, consciousness-altering drug, psychoactive substance, or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that alters psychological functioning by modulating central nervous system (CNS) activity.
Competence (law)In United States and Canadian law, competence concerns the mental capacity of an individual to participate in legal proceedings or transactions, and the mental condition a person must have to be responsible for his or her decisions or acts. Competence is an attribute that is decision-specific.AppealIn law, an appeal is the process in which cases or decisions are reviewed by a higher authority, where parties request a formal change to an official decision. Appeals function both as a process for error correction as well as a process of clarifying and interpreting law. Although appellate courts have existed for thousands of years, common law countries did not incorporate an affirmative right to appeal into their jurisprudence until the 19th century.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.