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A review and meta-analysis of the patient factors associated with psychiatric in-patient aggression

  • C. Dack
    ,
  • J. Ross
    ,
  • Chris Papadopoulos
    ,
  • D. Stewart
    ,
  • Len Bowers
  • University College London
    ,
  • King's College London
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To combine the results of earlier comparison studies of in-patient aggression to quantitatively assess the strength of the association between patient factors and i) aggressive behaviour, ii) repetitive aggressive behaviour. METHOD: A systematic review and meta-analysis of empirical articles and reports of comparison studies of aggression and non-aggression within adult psychiatric in-patient settings. RESULTS: Factors that were significantly associated with in-patient aggression included being younger, male, involuntary admissions, not being married, a diagnosis of schizophrenia, a greater number of previous admissions, a history of violence, a history of self-destructive behaviour and a history of substance abuse. The only factors associated with repeated in-patient aggression were not being male, a history of violence and a history of substance abuse. CONCLUSION: By comparing aggressive with non-aggressive patients, important differences between the two populations can be highlighted. These differences may help staff improve predictions of which patients might become aggressive and enable steps to be taken to reduce an aggressive incident occurring using actuarial judgements. However, the associations found between these actuarial factors and aggression were small. It is therefore important for staff to consider dynamic factors such as a patient's current state and the context to reduce in-patient aggression.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 255-268

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (Volume 127, Issue 4)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 04/01/2013

Publication status

Published - 04/01/2013

ISSN

0001-690X

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/264493
  • Scopus: 84874986124

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