Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T17:20:32.079Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The extent and effects of violence among psychiatric in-patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

C. Thomas ,
A. Bartlett  and
G. C. Mezey
C. Thomas
Affiliation:
Bristol Children's Hospital, St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8BJ
A. Bartlett
Affiliation:
Section of Forensic Psychiatry
G. C. Mezey*
Affiliation:
Section of Forensic Psychiatry, St George's Hospital, Medical School, Jenner Wing, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE
*
∗Correspondence
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Actual and perceived safety of male and female in-patients in an inner-city psychiatric hospital were examined. Using semi-structured interviews, 59 inpatients were asked to report on their direct experiences of physical or sexually threatening behaviour towards them during their admission. Of the sample, 75% reported unwanted physical or sexual experiences: female patients were significantly more likely than males to report sexual harassment. Most incidents were not reported to staff and both staff and patients appeared to perceive the ward environment as safe despite fairly high levels of verbal and physical aggression. This study has implications for the way that ‘violent incidents' in psychiatric hospitals are defined and recorded and raises questions about the provision of women-only space in hospitals.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 19 , Issue 10 , October 1995 , pp. 600 - 604
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1995

References

Aquilina, C. (1991) Violence by psychiatric in-patients. Medicine. Science & the Law, 31, 306–312.Google Scholar
Gath, A. (1989) Statement on abuse and harassment within psychiatric hospitals. Psychiatric Bulletin, 13, 461–462.Google Scholar
Haller, R. M. & Deluty, R. H. (1988) Assaults on staff by psychiatric in-patients. A critical review. British Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 174–179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Health and Safety Commission (1987) Health Services Advisory Committee Violence to Staff in the Health Services. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
James, D. V., Fineberg, N. A., Shah, A. K. & Priest, R. G. (1990) An increase in violence on an acute psychiatric ward. A study of associated factors. British Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 846–852.Google Scholar
Kilpatrick, D. G. & Best, C. L. (1990 April) Sexual assault victims: data from a random national probability sample. Paper presented at the meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. Atlanta.Google Scholar
MIND (1992) Stress on Women Campaign. Campaign Briefing 2: An end to sexual harassment and abuse in mental health settings. Mind Publications.Google Scholar
Mullen, P. (1990) The long-term influence of sexual assault on the mental health of victims. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 1, 13–34.Google Scholar
Palmer, R. L., Coleman, L., Chaloner, R., Oppenheimer, R. & Smith, J. (1993) Childhood sexual experiences with adults. A comparison of reports by women psychiatric patients and general practice, attenders. British Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 499–504.Google Scholar
Payne, A. (1993) Sexual activity among psychiatric inpatients: International Perspectives. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 4, 109–129.Google Scholar
Ruben, I., Wolkon, G. & Yamamoto, J. (1980) Physical attacks on psychiatric residents by patients. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 168, 243–245.Google Scholar
Subotsky, F. (1993) Sexual abuse in psychiatric hospitals: developing policies to aid prevention. Psychiatric Bulletin, 17, 274–276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.