A study of violent behaviour by residents in a mental handicap centre

Abstract

Objective: The authors were aware of a high level of aggression in their centre and felt that a systematic review of incidents of aggression could be of benefit to both staff and residents. Method: A retrospective review of all incidents over a one year period was performed. Data involving the resident and the incident itself were analysed. An ICD 9 psychiatric diagnosis was attributed to each resident where possible. Results: The results show a large number of incidents, mostly of a minor nature. In almost half the incidents the nurse was the victim. There was a lower number of incidents in January and February. Forty one of the 45 residents involved in incidents had a psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusion: There is a general trend for moving from residential settings to the community. Our results suggest that as time goes on our centre will contain more residents with a psychiatric diagnosis who have a potential for aggression. We suggest ways of coping with this aggression and produce an incident form for recording aggressive incidents.