Getting ready for recovery: reconciling mandatory treatment with the recovery vision

Considering treatment of serious mental illnesses, it might appear that the recovery model would be incompatible with any form of mandatory treatment. The authors suggest that this is not so. With individuals whose psychotic illness substantially impairs decision making, mandatory treatment may offer the best hope of getting well enough for recovery to be possible. It is essential, however, that any program involving involuntary community treatment involves recovering individuals who have themselves experienced a serious mental illness. The authors propose the use of a consumer-run guardianship program and a capacity review panel as two possible ways to achieve such participation.