AOT
Also written as: AOT — Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Assisted Outpatient Treatment, a legal framework for mandatory outpatient psychiatric care.
Full Definition
A court-ordered treatment program requiring individuals with severe mental illness to comply with outpatient treatment as a condition of remaining in the community. AOT is designed for patients with a history of medication noncompliance and repeated psychiatric hospitalizations or involvement with the criminal justice system. The program provides intensive case management, medication monitoring, and other supportive services while allowing the individual to live in the community rather than in an institutional setting. Failure to comply with AOT requirements can result in involuntary hospitalization.
Usage
Usage note: Also known as Kendra's Law in New York State; terminology may vary by jurisdiction.
In Context
- "The court ordered AOT after the patient's third psychiatric hospitalization in six months due to medication noncompliance." — Legal documentation
- "AOT services include weekly medication monitoring and bi-weekly sessions with a case manager." — Treatment plan