Locked doors: a survey of patients, staff and visitors

Abstract

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Systemic perspective of violence and aggression in mental health care: Towards a more comprehensive understanding and conceptualization: Part 1

“…; see also Bowers et al . ). Accordingly, while there appears to be recognition of a possible causal relationship between locked doors and the increased sense of confinement, loss of freedom, and the potential for an increase in violent incidents, we currently lack the data to support or refute this proposed connection.…”

“…Nurses and mental health nurse assistants mentioned more disadvantages than advantages, and nurses mentioned more disadvantages than mental health nurse assistants. While the findings are inconclusive as to the relationship between locked doors and inpatient A/V, the nurses surveyed appeared to acknowledge the increased sense of confinement and emotional problems that can be experienced by clients when doors are locked (Haglund et al 2006; see also Bowers et al 2010). Accordingly, while there appears to be recognition of a possible causal relationship between locked doors and the increased sense of confinement, loss of freedom, and the potential for an increase in violent incidents, we currently lack the data to support or refute this proposed connection.…”

Working towards least restrictive environments in acute mental health wards in the context of locked door policy and practice

“…However, this shift in policy, practice, and law has not prevented a more recent trend towards the locking of acute mental health wards, such as occurred in Queensland (Bowers et al . ; Muir‐Cochrane et al . ).…”

“…Disadvantages of locked wards, reported from the consumer perspective, include lower self‐esteem, a sense of being excluded from the world, confinement, and associated irritability (Bowers et al . ; Haglund & von Essen ; Muir‐Cochrane et al . ).…”

“…If hospital-based treatment is required, service providers also need to consider this principle and attend to the potential to reduce restriction on consumers (World Health Organization, 1996). However, this shift in policy, practice, and law has not prevented a more recent trend towards the locking of acute mental health wards, such as occurred in Queensland (Bowers et al 2010;Muir-Cochrane et al 2011).…”