title: Use of seclusion in a psychiatric intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use in a psychiatric intensive care unit of a newly introduced seclusion room for the management of acutely disturbed and/or violent patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A specially designed seclusion chart was used to document fully events immediately before, during, and immediately after seclusion. Data from the charts over a 6-month period provided the basis for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seclusion rate of about 2% of all admissions is less than that reported in the UK and the USA, suggesting that the facility is not used exclusively. Nursing staff welcomed seclusion as a means of reducing levels of dangerousness in the unit, but emphasized that it should be monitored carefully in order to prevent inappropriate use.
authors.affiliation: Acute Services, Glenside Hospital, Eastwood, South Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hafner
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010356:Patient Isolation; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013021:South Australia