[Continuous increase in community treatment orders and compulsory admissions in the Netherlands, 2003-2017]

To give a descriptive analysis of court decisions on involuntary admissions and community treatment orders in the Netherlands, and to discuss policy recommendations to contain the use of involuntary care.

Retrospective, descriptive research.

For this study, data were obtained from the Council for the Judiciary concerning requests for court-ordered admissions to mental hospitals and community treatment orders in the Netherlands. Requests from the period 2003-2017 were included in the analysis.

The rate of treated requests for compulsory emergency admissions increased from 43 per 100,000 persons in 2003 to 52 per 100,000 persons in 2017, an increase of 21%. The rate of treated requests for court orders increased from 44 per 100,000 persons in 2003 to 104 per 100,000 persons in 2017 (+138%). In the same period, the rate of treated requests for court-ordered involuntary admissions increased from 44 to 64 per 100,000 (+42%), whereas the rate of treated requests for community treatment orders increased from zero in 2003 to 39 per 100,000 in 2017.

In the Netherlands, requests for court-ordered compulsory admissions to mental hospitals and community treatment orders continue to increase. The biggest rise in requests is those for community treatment orders. Better registration of compulsory care is needed.