title: Crowding and violent behavior: the influence of patient density on violent and self-harming behaviour at a medium secure unit.
abstract: This study examines the influence of patient density (crowding) and number of potential perpetrators on the number of incidents of violence and self-harm at a medium secure unit. Of 2,053 incidents examined over a period of 974 days, 73% were perpetrated by 20% of the patients, the majority by patients identified as potential perpetrators. Increased patient density was not associated with increased risk of violence or self-harm. There was no evidence to suggest that the presence of those identified as potentially violent or self-harming increased the risk of others engaging in such behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Reaside Clinic, Rubery, Birmingham.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hardie
mesh_terms: D003441:Crowding / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*