title: Views of child psychiatrists on physical contact with patients.
abstract: The appropriateness and therapeutic value of physical contact with children is under increasing scrutiny. We conducted a postal questionnaire and telephone survey of consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists within Great Britain to investigate attitudes of specialists towards physical contact with their patients in different clinical contexts. Here we report that psychiatrists tend to restrict physical contact to the minimum essential for patient comfort or safety. Decision-making about contact is primarily influenced by professional experience and training. This conservative approach to physical contact with patients has implications for clinical practice and requires to be better informed by evidence.
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychological Medicine, University of Glasgow, Caledonia House, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK.
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blower
authors.forename: Roddy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lander
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McNulty
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Pavan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Srireddy
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mulcahy
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minnis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014110:Touch; D006113:United Kingdom