Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Absconding: outcome and risk.

L Bowers1, M Jarrett, N Clark

  • 1St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, City University, London, UK.

Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
|January 14, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Navigating Moral Distress and Moral Injury in Military Veterans: Clinical Implications for Nursing Practice.

Issues in mental health nursing·2026
Same author

Epidemiological insights into the burden of feline upper respiratory tract infections in Queensland RSPCA shelters.

Australian veterinary journal·2023
Same author

Current evidence for non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical treatments of canine osteoarthritis.

The Journal of small animal practice·2023
Same author

The impact of COVID-19 public health measures on attendance and overdose at supervised injecting facilities in Australia.

Public health·2023
Same author

An update on mobility assessment of dogs with musculoskeletal disease.

The Journal of small animal practice·2023
Same author

Management of vagus nerve stimulation therapy in the peri-operative period: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists.

Anaesthesia·2023
Same journal

Managing Emotion in Clinical Supervision Through Oller-Vallejo's Model of Ego States.

Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing·2026
Same journal

The Royal College of Nursing Position on Protecting the Fields of Nursing in the United Kingdom: Implications for Mental Health Nursing.

Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing·2026
Same journal

Allyship in Psychiatric and Mental Health Services: A Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis.

Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing·2026
Same journal

Facing the Crowd With a Racing Heart: A Lived Experience of Social Anxiety in Nursing Education.

Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing·2026
Same journal

Conversion Practices in Eating Disorder Treatment: A Lived Experience Narrative.

Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing·2026
Same journal

Clinician Well-Being as a Mental Health Equity Issue: Reflections From Crisis Care Systems in Ireland and Indonesia.

Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing·2026
See all related articles

Patient absconding from psychiatric wards poses risks, but official reports miss many cases. This study used an objective definition, finding most absconders return safely, often with family help.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Mental Health Services Research

Background:

  • Patient absconding from acute psychiatric wards is associated with risks of self-harm and harm to others.
  • Previous research has primarily examined officially reported absconds, potentially underestimating the scope of the issue.
  • An objective definition of absconding, independent of bureaucratic processes, is needed to capture all at-risk patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate patient absconding from acute psychiatric wards using an objective definition.
  • To identify the characteristics of absconding patients and the outcomes of absconding episodes.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of current interventions and identify areas for improvement in patient safety.

Main Methods:

  • A large prospective study was conducted in the East End of London.

Related Experiment Videos

  • An objective definition of absconding was employed, not reliant on official reporting.
  • Data were collected on patient risk factors, police involvement, and patient return.

    • Main Results:

    • Absconders are often considered high-risk by staff, with histories of violence or suicide attempts.
    • Police assistance was requested in 47% of absconding cases, with highly variable police responses.
    • The majority of absconds resulted in no harm, and most patients returned independently or with family/carer support.

    Conclusions:

    • Current methods for managing absconding patients may be insufficient.
    • Nurses require enhanced strategies for collaborating with police and involving relatives/carers.
    • Improved approaches are needed to ensure the safety of absconding patients and the public.