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An Increase in Violence on an Acute Psychiatric Ward

A Study of Associated Factors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

David V. James ,
Naomi A. Fineberg ,
Ajit K. Shah  and
Robert G. Priest
David V. James
Affiliation:
The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead
Naomi A. Fineberg
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington
Ajit K. Shah
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital, Paddington
Robert G. Priest*
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, London W2
*
∗ Correspondence
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Abstract

The increase in violent incidents on an acute psychiatric ward over a 15–month period was found to be strongly associated with the increase in use of temporary nursing staff (r = 0.63; P = 0.0005). The change in staffing patterns accounted for 39% of the variance in violence. An examination of the characteristics of all patients admitted to the ward revealed that the violent patients were significantly younger, more likely to have been admitted compulsorily and less likely to be depressed than non-violent ones.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 156 , Issue 6 , June 1990 , pp. 846 - 852
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1990 

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