Psychiatrists injured by patient attack

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychiatry
• Occupational Health and Safety

Background:

• Patient attacks pose a significant risk in forensic psychiatric settings.
• Understanding risk factors for staff injury is crucial for developing targeted safety interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify demographic and professional factors associated with patient attacks on staff psychiatrists in a forensic hospital.
• To compare injury rates among psychiatrists to those of nursing staff.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparison of injured (n=7) versus uninjured (n=47) staff psychiatrists over a five-year period.
• Analysis of injury rates per 100 person-years and demographic data.

Main Results:

• Thirteen percent of psychiatrists sustained injuries from patient attacks.
• Younger psychiatrists and those recently completing residency were more likely to be injured.
• Injury rates were similar to those observed in ward nursing staff.

Conclusions:

• Specific demographic factors, such as age and recency of residency completion, are associated with increased risk of patient assault injury.
• Forensic hospitals must implement targeted safety measures to protect vulnerable staff.