Citation

Hardie TJ. Med. Sci. Law 1999; 39(2): 161-166.

Affiliation

Reaside Clinic, Rubery, Birmingham.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, British Academy of Forensic Sciences, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10332164

Abstract

This study examines the influence of patient density (crowding) and number of potential perpetrators on the number of incidents of violence and self-harm at a medium secure unit. Of 2,053 incidents examined over a period of 974 days, 73% were perpetrated by 20% of the patients, the majority by patients identified as potential perpetrators. Increased patient density was not associated with increased risk of violence or self-harm. There was no evidence to suggest that the presence of those identified as potentially violent or self-harming increased the risk of others engaging in such behaviour.

Language: en