TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - Characteristics of aggression in a German psychiatric hospital and predictors of patients at risk
JO  - Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
A1  - Ketelsen, R.
A1  - Zechert, C.
A1  - Driessen, M.
A1  - Schulz, M.
SP  - 92
EP  - 99
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
N2  - This study investigated the aggressive behaviour of all mentally ill patients within a whole psychiatric hospital with a catchment area of 325 000 inhabitants over a 1-year period (i) to assess the 1-year prevalence and characteristics of aggressive episodes and index inpatients, and (ii) to identify predictors of patients at risk by a multivariate approach. Staff Observation of Aggression Scale was used to assess aggressive behaviour. Characteristics of index inpatients were compared with those of non-index inpatients. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify risk factors. A total of 171 out of 2210 admitted patients (7.7%) exhibited 441 aggressive incidents (1.7 incidents per bed per year). Logistic regression analyses revealed as major risk factors of aggression: diagnoses (organic brain syndromes OR = 3.6, schizophrenia OR = 2.9), poor psychosocial living conditions (OR = 2.2), and critical behaviour leading to involuntary admission (OR = 3.3). Predictors of aggressive behaviour can be useful to identify inpatients at risk. Nevertheless, additional situational determinants have to be recognized. Training for professionals should include preventive and de-escalating strategies to reduce the incidence of aggressive behaviour in psychiatric hospitals. The application of de-escalating interventions prior to admission might be effective in preventing aggressive behaviour during inpatient treatment especially for patients with severe mental disorders.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1351-0126
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2007.01049.x
ID  - ref1
ER  -