Characteristics of patient and staff victims of assaults in community residences by previously nonviolent psychiatric inpatients

There currently exists a large body of empirical research examining patient assaults in inpatient psychiatric facilities. These studies have focused p rimarily on staff and have found younger, male mental health workers with l ower levels of formal education and experience as well as nurses involved i n restraint procedures to be most at risk. However, despite the increased u tilization of community-based services, little attention has been directed toward patient assaults on patients and staff in community settings, partic ularly residential services. This study began to respond to this need by ex amining patient assaults toward other patients and staff in community resid ences during the first twelve months postdischarge for a group of newly dis charged patients who were not violent as inpatients. This study found femal e patients and staff to be at greater risk for assault than male patients. Lack of experience by staff was also a risk factor. The clinical, administr ative, and research implications of these findings are discussed.