Premium
A model of aggression in psychiatric hospitals
Author(s) -
Nijman H. L. I.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.106.s412.30.x
Subject(s) - aggression , psychopathology , stressor , psychiatric hospital , psychiatry , psychiatric ward , psychology , human factors and ergonomics , injury prevention , clinical psychology , poison control , medicine , medical emergency
Objective: Research of the determinants of inpatient aggression indicates that certain environmental hospital variables play a role in triggering aggression in psychiatric hospitals. Yet, how patient, staff and ward variables interact in eliciting aggression is not well understood. Method: On the basis of earlier findings, a model was proposed in which psychopathology and distorted cognitions of the patient are combined with environmental and communicational stressors that are specific for psychiatric wards. Results: The proposed model elucidates how certain patient, staff and ward characteristics may interact in causing aggression. The model also emphasizes that repeated inpatient aggression may be the result of a vicious circle, i.e. inpatient violence is often followed by an increase in environmental and/or communication stress on the patient, thereby heightening the risk of a repeated outburst of violence. Conclusion: Although tentative, the model may shed light on the mechanisms that lead to (repeated) violence.