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Adult Mental Health Service, Waikato Hospital, Pembroke Street, Hamilton, New Zealand, e-mail: elbadris{at}waikatodhb.govt.nz
Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland
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Abstract |
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The study aimed to identify the correlates of aggressive behaviour in an adult acute psychiatric ward. Over a period of 9 months, all incidents of verbal and physical aggressive behaviour exhibited by in-patients were routinely assessed using the Overt Aggression Scale.
RESULTS
Of the 535 patients admitted during the study period, 80 (15%) were involved in a total of 124 aggressive incidents. Of these 80, 44 (55%) had a history of previous violence and 54 (68%) had a history of substance misuse. The majority of events occurred early in the hospital stay and in most cases aggression was against staff.There were significant differences between aggressive and non-aggressive patients in terms of gender and ethnicity, with the lowest rate occurring in European females.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
These results reinforce clinical impressions, and empirical evidence, and allow risk assessment to be performed with greater confidence. The relevance of ethnicity (or more likely culture) highlights the difficulties of a ‘one size fits all’approach to risk assessment.
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Introduction |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMethodResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Method |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMethodResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Data were analysed using 
2 and t-tests for group
comparisons.
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Results |
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Of the aggressive events, 59 (48%) involved patients with a history of violence and 83 (67%) involved patients with a history of alcohol or drug misuse. Table 2 summarises characteristics of aggressive events. Of the aggressive episodes, 40 (32%) occurred on the first day of admission and 83 (67%) in the first week; 52% took place during the evening shift and 27% and 21% during day and night shifts respectively. The majority (74%) of patients were involved in only one incident. Verbal aggression was the most frequent (57% involving nursing staff and 6% involving other patients). Physical aggression against staff accounted for at least 25% of the events and 15% of all aggressive events were rated as moderate-to-severe (OAS score >5). Patients who exhibited aggressive behaviour had a significantly longer total length of stay (median 14 days) than the nonaggressive patients (median 7 days).
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All of the aggressive patients were secluded at some point. Physical restraint by nursing staff was required in about a third of the events. The immediate administration of additional medication in the form of as required neuroleptics either orally or intramuscularly was used in about two-thirds of the aggressive events. There was no difference in mean OAS score between events involving patients who did and did not have a history of drug or alcohol misuse (t=1.64, d.f.=122, P>0.1). However, there was a statistically significant difference (t=–4.14, d.f.=122, P<0.01) between the groups in terms of history of violence, with events involving patients having a history of violence having a higher mean OAS score than events involving patients with no such history.
There was no relationship between ethnicity and history of violence for
non-European patients (2=0.067, d.f.=1, P>0.1).
However, there was a relationship between ethnicity and a previous history of
drug or alcohol misuse, with Maori patients more likely (80%) to have such a
history than European patients (51%; 2=6.492, d.f.=1,
P<0.05).
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Discussion |
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The finding that Maori and other non-European patients were more likely to be involved in aggressive incidents is interesting. It may reflect more severe psychopathology in this group of patients, which in turn may reflect cultural differences in service access, service utilisation or real differences in phenomenology. A higher proportion of Maori patients had a history of substance misuse, which may be another significant factor. Previous studies have suggested that aggressive behaviour in inpatient units often involves patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders (Tardiff, 1999), particularly those who are acutely psychotic or manic. Similarly, in our study, patients with schizophrenia, mania and those with substance misuse were most frequently involved in aggressive events. There is evidence for an increase in substance-related psychotic disorders over time (Cantwell et al, 1999), it is therefore not surprising that 7% of our total sample were in that category. As the study recorded only the single, coded primary clinical diagnosis, comorbidity could not be considered. Our finding that nearly 70% of the aggressive episodes took place within the first week of admission is consistent with the view that stage or phase of illness, in terms of acuity or remission, is a useful predictor of violence (Davis, 1991), especially in the short term. Acutely ill patients are particularly vulnerable and may feel provoked or intimidated, especially if they are psychotic and admitted involuntarily. All of our patients who were involved in aggressive events were compulsorily detained. This is probably a reflection of the use of risk and violence as criteria for compulsory admission. The finding that most patients exhibiting aggressive behaviour were likely to be secluded is consistent with several studies (James et al, 1990; El-Badri & Mellsop 2002).
There is a consensus that a history of aggressive behaviour is the best predictor of future violence (Davis, 1991; Shah et al, 1991; Crighton, 1995). In our study, 55% of patients who were aggressive had a history of previous violence and nearly 70% had a history of alcohol or drug misuse. Substance misuse among psychiatric patients has consistently been shown to be a significant risk factor for aggression and disturbed behaviour (Soyka, 2000). In our sample, 54 aggressive patients (68%) had a history of alcohol or drug misuse. Substance misuse probably exacerbates psychotic symptoms and/or interacts with personality and other social variables and treatment nonadherence (Soyka, 2000). In our study, over half of the aggressive events occurred in the evening and in most cases were directed against the nursing staff. Threats of violence and verbal aggression predominated, with serious physical aggression being less common. In the evening, however, aggressive episodes peaked at certain times. The first peak coincided with the change of shift and medication time (4–6 p.m.) and the second with bedtime (10 p.m.); these are times at which hospital rules are enforced. Setting limits on patient behaviour and attempting to accomplish specific tasks (including the administration of medication) have been noted to provoke aggressive behaviour (Sheridan et al, 1990; Tardiff, 1992; Lance et al, 1995). Furthermore, the skill of staff and their training in limit-setting and aggression control technique are equally important (Infantino & Musingo 1985). Staff skills, their attitude and experience, and staff–patient interactions are interrelated. These issues and the impact of the way hospital rules/regimes are enforced require further examination.
The usage of seclusion in New Zealand may be a practice awaiting an evidential base or a change in service culture.
In this unit, the average admission rate was 4 patients per day and the average bed occupancy was 84% during the study period. We did not find any significant relationship between aggressive episodes and bed occupancy or admission rates.
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References |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMethodResultsDiscussionReferences |
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