Implementation of a smoking ban on a locked psychiatric unit

The purpose of this study was to measure alterations in the level of disruptive patient activity on a locked psychiatric unit after initiation of a smoking ban. Most of the monitored parameters of disruptive behavior remained stable, and/or changes did not reach statistical significance after the implementation of the smoking prohibition. This is in agreement with previous investigations. The only exception was an increase in the amount of p.r.n. medications dispensed specifically for agitated behavior [t(8 df) = -3.07 (p = 0.015)]. Though major clinical disturbances did not occur, it appeared that patients experienced a small yet documentable increase in agitation. Despite there being no major problems in establishing a smoke-free psychiatric service, abolishing tobacco products may create some minor management difficulties. This may be most commonly observed on locked units that treat large numbers of severely disturbed, involuntarily hospitalized individuals.