The relationship between admission symptoms and hospital assaults

Assessments at hospital admission of patients' potential for violence often rely on limited information, such as the patient's mental status, because detailed clinical and historical information may not be readily available. This study examined the relationship between symptoms at admission as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and later violence of 127 psychiatric inpatients. Patients who showed higher levels of thinking disturbance, hostile-suspiciousness, and agitation-excitement at the time of admission were at greater risk of becoming assaultive during the hospitalization. The findings suggest the usefulness of specific symptom profiles for identifying acute psychiatric patients at risk for violence.