Psychiatric elopement: using evidence to examine causative factors and preventative measures.
BACKGROUND
Elopement is a problem in the inpatient mental health community. Elopement can have serious and long term effects for the patients and staff.


OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this paper are to present a review of the literature regarding elopement and to provide recommendation for practice.


METHODS
Using several databases, a search of the existing literature was conducted.


RESULTS
Elopement occurs due to a number of factors, including: psychosocial issues, staff-patient interaction, the patient's attitude toward hospitalization, and their mental illness.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to understand why patients seek to elope from treatment facilities to prevent further occurrences.
Department of Behavioral Health, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. dbrumbles@umm.edu
Dennis
D
Brumbles
Adina
A
Meister
D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D012307:Risk Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology*