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A major government-commissioned study into the international experience of mental health community treatment orders has found it impossible to say whether they are beneficial or harmful.

The report, published last week, found "no robust evidence" about their effects on outcomes such as hospital readmission or patients' quality of life.

Shadow health minister Tim Loughton criticised the "disgraceful" timing in publishing the report the day after the Lords' final debate on the bill.

Community treatment orders would allow patients to be compulsorily treated in the community following a period of detention in hospital.

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   Simeon Brody