Determinants of absconding by patients on acute psychiatric wards

Absconding by patients from acute psychiatric wards is a high risk behaviou r and has been linked to harm to self and others. Previous research on the characteristics of absconders has been overly reliant on officially generat ed statistics and small numbers of variables, limiting the conclusions that may be drawn. This paper reports on a prospective study of absconders from 12 acute admission wards in three English National Health Service Trusts o ver 5 months, compared to a control group matched for ward. Extensive data on absconder and control characteristics were collected from case records a nd from nursing staff. Absconders were significantly different from control s in many respects. Absconding is linked to other forms of non-compliant pa tient behaviour, e.g. medication refusal and involvement in violent inciden ts. Significant variations in the rates of absconding were found between di fferent wards, and between different consultant psychiatrists. Predictive f actors were identified by logistic regression. Study in the diverse fields of non-compliance should be brought together as these phenomena are likely to be interrelated. Further investigation is required to determine exactly what it is that consultant psychiatrists and ward nurses do that affects ab sconding rates.