Long-term benefits of providing assisted outpatient treatment found, says
Treatment Advocacy Center
ARLINGTON, Va.--(Business Wire)--
New York`s Kendra`s Law to provide assisted outpatient treatment for people with
severe mental illness is effective in a wide-range of measures, and provides
long-lasting benefits the longer someone with a mental illness is in the
program, a comprehensive independent evaluation conducted for the state by Duke
University Medical School finds.
"The clear fact is that Kendra`s Law is an effective mechanism to engage people
with the most severe forms of mental illness in outpatient treatment," said
Rosanna Esposito, Interim Acting Executive Director of the Treatment Advocacy
Center. "Kendra`s Law reduces hospitalizations, arrests, substance abuse and
other negative consequences of mental illness, while it greatly increases
treatment. The law is working just as intended; to increase treatment and to
keep people safer."
Kendra`s Law was enacted in 1999 after Kendra Webdale was tragically pushed to
her death in front of an oncoming New York City subway train by a man with an
untreated mental illness. The incident galvanized the mental health community
and state lawmakers to develop a better way to provide outpatient treatment to
people with severe mental illnesses who have had multiple hospitalizations or
violence due to noncompliance with medication.
Key findings of the report include:
* Hospitalizations were reduced by more than one-half among people receiving 12
months or more of assisted outpatient treatment.
* The likelihood of arrest in any given month was reduced from 3.7 to 1.9
percent for AOT participants as compared to before they were in the program.
* Suicide or other attempts of people on assisted outpatient treatment to harm
themselves decreased by more than half;
* Nonadherence to medications among participants decreased from 47% to 33% after
six months of AOT.
The 107-page study also indicates the positive outcome of assisted outpatient
treatment extends after the person is taken off the order, with the largest
long-term improvement coming from people in AOT for 12 months or longer.
"This independent evaluation proves that Kendra`s Law works and should be made
permanent in New York. It is a model to be replicated in other states," Esposito
said.
Last month, New Jersey passed a similar bill and it is awaiting signature by
Gov. Jon Corzine.
The Treatment Advocacy Center (www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org) is a national
nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and
effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. The Treatment Advocacy Center
promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and
supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the
causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder.
Treatment Advocacy Center
Paul DelPonte, 703-294-6003
delpontep@treatmentadvocacycenter.org
Copyright Business Wire 2009
