The authors studied the use of seclusion and restraint on an inpatient
unit in a state psychiatric hospital. Of 69 randomly selected inpatients,
51% experienced seclusion or restraint at least once. More psychotic than
nonpsychotic patients required seclusion or restraint. However, neither
psychosis/nonpsychosis nor voluntary/involuntary admission status predicted
the likelihood of violent threats or actions. Patients experiencing
seclusion and restraint showed a nonsignificant trend toward longer mean
length of stay in the hospital. The frequency of patient behavior leading
to seclusion or restraint appeared to be directly related to the
stimulation caused by the presence of many staff members and other
patients.
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