Violent patients: what Italian psychiatrists feel and how this could change their patient care.
The study takes a detailed look at psychiatric patient violence towards their psychiatrists. It takes into consideration the views and opinions of Italian psychiatrists, whether they have experienced violent behaviour first hand and, if so, which type of aggression and whether this caused them to modify their behaviour towards the patient and his or her treatment. A multiple-choice questionnaire is sent to all members of the Italian Society of Psychiatry, with 1,202 psychiatrists responding (20.23% of the sample). The data are evaluated using SPSS with chi-square test calculations for discrete and continuous variables and t-testing for independent samples (significance p < .05). Almost all psychiatrists (90.9%) have experienced verbal aggression; 72% have been threatened with dangerous objects and 64.58% have suffered physical aggression. Physical aggression experiences result in a 50% increase in the probability of modifying one's therapeutic behaviour. Significant differences emerge between the psychiatrists, according to differences in age and career experience. Psychiatrists state that they do not consider themselves to be adequately prepared to deal with the violence of patients, and almost all psychiatrists felt the need for specific training in how to manage such violence.
Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bari, Policlinico Universitario, Bari, Italy. r.catanesi@criminologia.uniba.it
Roberto
R
Catanesi
Felice
F
Carabellese
Chiara
C
Candelli
Antonia
A
Valerio
Domenico
D
Martinelli
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*