Involuntary outpatient treatment (IOT) is a form of involuntary treatment applied in the community, which seeks to ensure adherence to treatment in patients suffering from severe mental illness, unaware of disease and in which abandonment of treatment poses a high risk of relapse, with the development of disruptive and violent behavior, and repeated hospitalizations (usually involuntary) and frequent emergencies.

In 1997 was the first time was implemented in the province of Guipúzcoa, Spain.

Perform an analysis of IOT in two mental health centers of San Sebastian.

Retrospective descriptive study. The sample comprised all patients who are on involuntary outpatient treatment in two mental health centers in San Sebastian, from 2009 until June 2010.

The collection of information is conducted through a review of the patient’s medical history, analyzing the following demographic and clinical data: age, sex, psychiatric diagnosis, evolution of the disease, number of hospital admissions and care in emergencies

A sample population of 42 patients. 58% are male and 42% female. The average patient age is 48 years. The youngest person is 18 years and 81 years older.

The years of evolution of the illness range from 2 to 25 years, with an average of 12 years. The average hospital admissions per patient is 4.

For diagnosis, schizophrenia is the most common mental disorder. In second place: delusional disorder, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

IOT is most often applied to people with schizophrenia which have severe relapses with violent behavior or noncompliance.