title: A program to help staff cope with psychological sequelae of assaults by patients.
abstract: Mental hospital staff who are assaulted by patients are at risk of developing symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. The Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP), a voluntary program, offers support to staff victims of patient assaults in a state mental hospital. ASAP team members debrief assault victims, assessing the victim's sense of control, social supports, and ability to make sense of the incident. A short-term support group is offered. During the program's first 90 days, the team responded to 67 assaults. Ten days after the assaults, many of the victims had not regained a sense of control, did not have a support network, and were unable to make sense of the incident. These factors put them at risk for PTSD symptoms. The costs of such a program are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Hospital, MA 02139.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Flannery
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tausch
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: DeLoffi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005260:Female; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence