Violent Behaviour in Pyschiatric Inpatients

Abstract

A study of violent behaviour among psychiatric inpatients in a large general hospital is presented. Over the study period of one year a total of 36 incidents of violence involving 26 patients were recorded. Schizophrenia was the most commondiagnosisamong assailants. Fellowpatients were the main victims. Incidence of serious violencewas low. Mostincidents occurred in the night hours. from inma tes of acute wards and mostly without any provocation. M]AFI 1994; 50 : 109-112