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Institutional Abuse – Characteristics of Victims, Perpetrators and Organsations: a Systematic Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2016

Y.S. Kamavarapu ,
Michael Ferriter ,
S. Morton  and
B. Völlm
Y.S. Kamavarapu*
Affiliation:
South Oxfordshire Adult Learning Disability Team, Abbey HouseAbingdon, UK
Michael Ferriter
Affiliation:
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Rampton Hospital, UK
S. Morton
Affiliation:
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Rampton Hospital, UK
B. Völlm
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK Enhanced Service for Personality Disorders, Rampton Hospital, UK
*
* Corresponding author. E-mail address:[email protected] (Y.S. Kamavarapu).
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Abstract

Background

Abuse of vulnerable adults in institutional settings has been reported from various countries; however, there has been no systematic review of the characteristics of the victims and their abusers. Our aim was to identify and synthesise the literature on victims, perpetrators and institutions where abuse occured in order to inform interventions to prevent such abuse.

Methods

Searches of MEDLINE (OVID), CINHAL (EBSCO), EMBASE (OVID) and PsychINFO (OVID) databases identified 4279 references. After screening of titles and abstracts, 123 citations merited closer inspection. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 articles were included in the review.

Results

Our review suggested that the evidence available on risk factors is not extensive but some conclusions can be drawn. Clients, staff, institutional and environmental factors appear to play a role in increasing the risk of abuse.

Conclusions

Vulnerable clients need closer monitoring. Clients and staff may lack the awareness and knowledge to identify and report abuse. Institutions should take proactive steps to monitor clients, train staff and devise systems that allow for the identification and prevention of incidents of abuse.There is a need for further research into the associations between the individual client, staff, institutional characteristics and abuse.

Keywords

CharacteristicsAdultsVulnerableCaregiverInstitutionAbuse
Type
Review
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 40 , February 2017 , pp. 45 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2017

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