IMPACT OF A MANDATORY BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION ON SECLUSION RESTRAINT UTILIZATION IN A PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITAL/

Despite demonstrations of the utility and cost effectiveness of behavi oral methods for improving care for people with psychiatric impairment s, they are seldom employed effectively in inpatient settings. This st udy evaluated the impact of an administrative procedure to effect a be havioral consultation for cases of high seclusion\restraint utilizatio n. Seclusion\restraint use for the 53 cases was reviewed for a time pe riod of 6 months before and 6 months after development of a behavioral treatment plan resulting from this procedure. The data revealed a 62% reduction in seclusion\restraint use after development of an approved plan. There was also a reversal in serial trend from increasing use d uring the months prior to plan development to decreasing use during mo nths after plan development. The procedure is described and implicatio ns of the results for clinicians and administrators of psychiatric inp atient programs are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.