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Aggressive behaviour in a psychiatric observation ward
Author(s) -
Cooper S. J.,
Browne F. W. A.,
McClean K. J.,
King D. J.
Publication year - 1983
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 - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb07021.x
Subject(s) - psychiatry , poison control , psychology , injury prevention , suicide prevention , human factors and ergonomics , occupational safety and health , medicine , medical emergency , pathology
– Episodes of aggression were monitored, using a questionnaire, for a 6‐month period in the female observation ward of a General Psychiatric Hospital. The results show that: a small group of schizophrenic patients were responsible for most of the incidents; nursing staff and other patients fell victim equally frequently; few of the incidents were predictable. Psychotic symptoms appear to be the main cause. More effective treatment of some persistently psychotic, apparently neuroleptic‐resistant, aggressive patients should reduce the prevalence of violent behaviour. Drug‐free observation periods in more recently admitted patients, or patients involved in pharmacological studies, however, were not associated with violent incidents.