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 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 Citation Map 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 HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wildgoose, J. Articles by Lloyd, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wildgoose, J. Articles by Lloyd, K.

Psychological and emotional problems in staff following assaults by patients

Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Mental Health Services for Older People, Chadwell Centre, Torquay Road, Paignton, Devon TQ3 2DW

Martin Briscoe, Consultant Psychiatrist

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Keith Lloyd, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health

Peninsula Medical School, Exeter

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

To determine psychological morbidity among staff following actual or threatened violence from patients on acute psychiatric wards. A retrospective survey of all 156 clinical staff on Exeter’s acute psychiatric wards was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire using standardised measures.

RESULTS

The response rate was 81%, and 72% of respondents had experienced one or more distressing incidents of actual or threatened violence within the previous year. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire and Impact of Events Scale scores were significantly higher in those who reported exposure to ‘frequent’ violent incidents.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Some National Health Service staff may be harmed psychologically when they are at work. This consequently may have implications for patient care, employer liability and recruitment.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Chaplin, M. McGeorge, and P. Lelliott The National Audit of Violence: in-patient care for adults of working age Psychiatr. Bull., December 1, 2006; 30(12): 444 - 446. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]