[Assessment of threatening behaviors in patients admitted to mental hospital]

Imminent threat presented by patients admitted to mental hospital was studied. The research data came from a questionnaire filled out by psychiatrists on duty at the time of admission. The study was carried out during 3 months in seven mental hospitals. It concerns only 1001 patients assessed by psychiatrists as imminently threatening. These assessments were compared with Lessard's criteria of dangerousness. Two types of assessments were made; type A--consistent with Lessard and type B not-consistent. Results obtained indicate that every third assessment belonged to type B i.e. could be seen as imminently threatening. Our findings show that psychiatrists taking part in the study were inclined to unduly broad or unduly discretional assessment of imminent threat.