ABSTRACT

CTOs replaced Supervised Aftercare which was regarded by some as not being sufficiently robust in terms of requiring patients to take medication in the community. CTOs have proved both popular and controversial with professionals and their use has outstripped that of guardianship. There were 3 525 patients who were subject to CTOs in England on 31 March 2010 compared with only 836 on guardianship. As with guardianship, the use of CTOs varies considerably by area.