title: Key components of de-escalation techniques: a thematic synthesis.
abstract: De-escalation techniques are a highly recommended set of therapeutic interventions that are frequently used to prevent violence and aggression within mental health services. A thematic synthesis literature review identified 11 international papers. Seven themes emerged from the data synthesis. The first three related broadly to staff skills, including: characteristics of effective de-escalators, maintaining personal control, and verbal and non-verbal skills. The last four relate to the process of intervening and include: engaging with the patient, when to intervene, ensuring safe conditions for de-escalation, and strategies for de-escalation (including two sub-themes, autonomy confirming interventions, and limit-setting and authoritative interventions). De-escalation techniques are an example of a complex intervention, which has been overlooked by rigorous research, and it is often assumed that staff are able to perform these techniques in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology