PHYSICAL RESTRAINT OF PATIENTS IN A PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITAL

Use of physical restraint occurs within British psychiatric hospitals yet there has been little evaluative research on current practice. The present study aims to describe a group of disturbed in-patients who h ad required physical restraint at some point during the course of thei r stay in hospital and to classify the reasons for its use. Cases were identified using Case Register data and information obtained from pat ients' records. In the 48 episodes of physical restraint identified, p atients were predominantly schizophrenic (60%), male (67%) and had bee n restrained because of physical violence to others (44%) or because t hey were attempting to abscond (31%). Although the majority of patient s were compulsorily detained prior to the use of physical restraint, t hree remained informal. The findings are discussed in the context of t he legal justifications for use of restraint. Further research on curr ent practice is required to enable formulation of clear guidelines.