title: Characteristics of staff victims of pschiatric patient assaults: 15-year analysis of the Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP).
abstract: Psychiatric patient assaults on staff victims are a worldwide occupational hazard. This paper reports on a 15-year study of the characteristics of staff victims of patient assaults and a crisis intervention procedure to ameliorate the aftermath of theses incidents. The debate on the efficacy of early interventions is outlined and the present 15-year findings are presented, findings demonstrating remarkable consistency in victim characteristics over time. The crisis intervention procedures were associated with sharp declines in disrupted victim functioning. The validity of the study's findings are noted and the implications for enhanced risk management training and staff victim crisis intervention procedures are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Worcester State Hospital, 305 Belmont Street, Worcester, MA 01604, USA. Raymond.Flannery@dmh.state.ma.us
authors.forename: Raymond B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Flannery
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.forename: Stephany
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rego
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D020415:Personnel Downsizing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology