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Reducing violence on a secure ward

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ann Mortimer
Ann Mortimer*
Affiliation:
Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School; Huddersfield Health Authority, Yorkshire
*
c/o West London Healthcare NHS Trust, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex UB1 3EU
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Abstract

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Prediction of in-patient psychiatric violence is difficult: longitudinal appraisal during environmental change may identify Influential factors. Incidents on a secure ward fell substantially in number and severity over 31 months during which staff were trained in control and restraint techniques (CAR) and a monthly audit of incidents was carried out. A few patients caused many incidents. Women were disproportionately violent: both sexes preferred a victim of the same gender. Most incidents occurred in clusters by the same patient. Perceived antecedents were patients' psychosis, inadequate CAR and other staff. Increasing C&R staff was the only factor associated with reducing violence. Patients attacked each other rather than nurses as violence decreased.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 19 , Issue 10 , October 1995 , pp. 605 - 608
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

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