Violence against psychiatrists by patients: survey in a London mental health trust

Abstract

Aims and MethodA survey was undertaken to investigate assaults of psychiatrists by patients in a 12-month period. Surveys were sent to 199 psychiatrists representing all sub-specialties and grades in a London mental health trust.ResultsThere were 129 returned responses (response rate 64.8%). In the 12-month study period, 12.4% of all psychiatrists and 32.4% of senior house officers were assaulted. None received or took up offers of formal, as opposed to informal, psychological support. Most assaults occurred on a psychiatric ward. Vulnerability to assaults was not influenced by courses on prevention and management of violence or by the attitudes of psychiatrists to violence by psychiatric patients.Clinical ImplicationsSenior house officers are most vulnerable to assaults. Greater attention may need to be given to psychiatric wards where most assaults occurred. Trusts should ensure that those assaulted are identified and offered support.

Violence against mental health staff: a survey in a Nigerian psychiatric hospital

“…The questionnaires were developed according to the method used by previous investigators. 1,3 Physical assaults were defined as actual physical attacks (e.g. hit, struck with an object, shaken, pushed, attempted strangling, attempted rape, kicking, biting) and not threats or verbal aggression.…”

“…Demographic data such as gender, age, marital status and duration of employment were also obtained. Attitude of staff towards physical assaults by patients was investigated using the four attitude items from Dhumad et al 1 All replies were anonymous.…”

“…Life expectancy is reduced by 20%, with 60% of the excess mortality due to physical illness. 1 The large-scale US Clinical Antipsychotic Trials in Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) study identified major deficiencies in lack of diagnosis and treatment for cardiovascular risk factors in this population. 2 The 2006 guidelines for schizophrenia from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recognised these problems and identified the need for these patients to receive appropriate physical healthcare.…”

A study on the frequency of violence to healthcare professionals in a mental health hospital and related factors

“…Moreover, studies aiming description of violence exposure of healthcare professionals working in psychiatry departments (3,7,24,(29)(30)(31) were carried out. It is reported in studies with various rates that healthcare professionals were exposed to violence at least once within the last one year (2,3,7,14,18,32).…”

Psychiatric training – a dangerous pursuit

“…12 However, vulnerability to violence may not be influenced by courses on management and prevention of violence. 19 A study in Wales reported a high uptake of induction and breakaway courses by psychiatric trainees, but it also highlighted deficiencies in the physical work environment such as poor access to panic buttons, personal alarms and appropriate interview rooms. 20 Of concern is the finding that the process of audit did not lead to an improvement in the safety of interview rooms.…”