Physical assaults in a psychiatric unit of a general hospital.
The authors collected data concerning assaults, assaultive patients, and victims in a psychiatric unit during a 12-month period and compared them with data from a control group of patients. Thirty-seven assaults by 25 patients were recorded. Fourteen of the victims were patients and 23 were members of staff. The assaultive group contained a significantly higher proportion of schizophrenic patients than did the control group and significantly larger numbers of patients from lower socioeconomic classes, patients admitted involuntarily under a section of the Mental Health Act, and patients with a history of assaults.
Edwards
J G
JG
Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton, U.K.
Jones
D
D
Reid
W H
WH
Chu
C C
CC
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012307:Risk Factors; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014754:Violence