@article{ref1,
title="Characteristics of violent behaviour in acute psychiatric in-patients: a 5-year Italian study",
journal="Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica",
year="2001",
author="Grassi, L. and Peron, L. and Marangoni, C. and Zanchi, P. and Vanni, A.",
volume="104",
number="4",
pages="273-279",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: In order to examine prospectively the characteristics of violence among psychiatric patients, a 5-year study was carried out in an acute psychiatric unit. METHOD: All assaultive behaviour occurred in the ward during the study period were assessed routinely using the Staff Observation Aggression scale (SOAS). RESULTS: Of 1534 patients admitted to the unit during the study period, 116 were responsible for 329 aggressive episodes (prevalence of violence=7.5%, 2.8 incidents/patient). Most violent patients had an ICD-9 diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or delusional syndromes (55.1%), a history of violence (80.7%) and previous psychiatric admissions (92%). Approximately half of the incidents had no specific cause, occurred during daytime and the first week of admission and, in most cases, were directed towards individuals (77.8%). CONCLUSION: Although confirming the low rate of violence among Italian psychiatric in-patients, the study indicates the need for more attention to the problem of aggression in general hospital psychiatric units.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0001-690X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}