AOT
Also written as: AOT — Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Court-ordered community mental health treatment for individuals with severe mental illness who have a pattern of non-compliance with treatment.
Full Definition
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is a legal mechanism that allows courts to order individuals with severe mental illness to comply with outpatient mental health treatment as a condition for living in the community. Also known as outpatient commitment, AOT is typically reserved for individuals with a documented pattern of treatment non-adherence that has resulted in psychiatric hospitalizations, incarcerations, or dangerous behaviors. AOT orders specify treatment requirements and may include medication compliance, therapy attendance, and case management participation. The goal is to prevent cycling between crisis services while maintaining civil liberties.
Usage
Usage note: AOT laws vary significantly by state; some states do not permit outpatient commitment.
In Context
- "The AOT petition cited multiple psychiatric hospitalizations over six months." — Legal filing
- "AOT compliance monitoring requires weekly contact with the case manager." — Court order