A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF ASSAULTS ON STAFF BY PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS

This study determined the prevalence and features of assaults on staff , compared them with other aggressive incidents by psychiatric in-pati ents, and studied their relationship with the ward atmosphere, There w ere 181 physical assaults among 279 staff in two months, i.e. 389 assa ults per 100 staff per year. A few patients were responsible for the m ajority of the assaults. Most assaults were triggered off by staff-pat ient interaction. About one-third of the staff were significantly psyc hologically shaken by the incidents. Patients were more likely to be p rovoked and used more severe means of aggression against staff than ag ainst other targets of aggression. There were no significant differenc es between the characteristics of patients who assaulted staff and tho se who had other targets of aggression.