"I was told to come." Compulsory treatment

In the past years, an increase has been observed in the number of referrals for outpatient care emanating from legal bodies. These can occur at different moments in the legal procedure: preliminary inquiry, trial, conditional release. The prevailing reasons - family, conjugal and sexual violence - are varied and seem to follow contemporary societal trends. Clinicians question the value of these orders which bring them face to face with a type of patient hitherto unknown to medico-psychological centres. The persons concerned seem themselves to have doubts as to the value of the enforced course of treatment. Under such conditions, therapy can seem a impossible undertaking. Some though do make the most of the opportunity presented to them.