HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Okhai, M. F. Articles by McLaren, P. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Okhai, M. F. Articles by McLaren, P. M.

Re-evaluation of the role of trainee psychiatrists in secluding general adult psychiatric patients

St. Martin's Hospital, Littlebourne Road, Canterbury CT1 1AZ

P. M. McLaren, Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry

UMDS Division of Psychiatry and Psychology, Guy's Hospital SE1 9RT

^* Correspondence

The seclusion of general adult psychiatric patients is still a common nursing intervention of questionable therapeutic benefit. It is often initiated as a last resort to maintain safety where there are staff shortages. Historically concerns over the abuse of this procedure led to the involvement of medical staff to oversee or monitor the procedure and this practice has become fossilised in the seclusion policies of many trusts. This paper argues that the routine involvement of trainee psychiatrists in this procedure, for which they are rarely trained, is archaic, impairs inter-professional relationships and should be regarded as an inappropriate duty.