title: Experiment in managing sociopathic behaviour disorders.
abstract: A ward catering for both sexes admitted patients with aggressive suicidal, or otherwise disturbed behaviour for observation and treatment until decisions could be made about their long-term needs. Patients were referred from the police, special hospitals, and the courts and some were transferred from other wards in the hospital. A third of the first 100 patients were admitted for forensic reasons. Twelve inmates were discharged to long-term accommodation for disturbed patients. The ward was intended to provide fairly short-term accommodation, though no time limits were set, and it was run as a medium secure unit. The ward was run by 16-18 nurses with support from medical teams, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists. It has secured its status as a special unit within the hospital and will continue with the active support of the hospital staff.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006757:Hospital Units; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012606:Scotland