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Coping with the aggressive patient: an alternative to punishment
The Canadian Nurse
|January 1, 1976
Summary
This study demonstrates how behavior modification techniques, including positive and negative reinforcement and shaping, can effectively manage extreme aggression in psychiatric patients. These methods offer a less restrictive alternative to physical restraints for chronic aggression.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Clinical Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Aggressive behaviors in psychiatric institutions pose significant risks to patients and staff.
- Physical restraints are often employed but can be detrimental to patient well-being and staff morale.
- Chronic aggression presents a persistent challenge in mental healthcare settings.
Observation:
- A case history of a 36-year-old male psychiatric patient with previously unmanageable aggression is presented.
- The patient exhibited extreme aggression necessitating interventions.
- The cycle of aggression was found to be defeating for both the patient and the care staff.
Findings:
- The application of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and shaping techniques was detailed.
- These behavioral modification strategies were employed to alter the patient's aggressive conduct.
- The study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of these methods in managing severe aggression.
Implications:
- Behavioral interventions offer a promising alternative to physical restraints for managing aggression.
- Successful modification of aggression can improve patient outcomes and the institutional environment.
- This case history provides a model for addressing chronic aggression in psychiatric care.