Treatment environment and patient improvement

This study investigated the relationship between treatment environment and patient behavior change. The psychosocial environments of eight psychiatric wards were assessed by having patients complete the Ward Atmosphere Scale and by having observers record ongoing social interactions on the ward. These environmental measures were related to behavior change scores taken from staff ratings of patient behavior. Both the patient perceptions of the ward environment and the observational environmental measures displayed significant relationships with behavior change. Patient perceptions of staff control and of staff acceptance of anger were found to be important environmental dimensions for patient improvement. In addition, wards having more patient-staff interaction displayed more patient improvement.