A prospective study of aggression among psychiatric patients in rehabilitation wards

The aim of the study was to determine, among patients in rehabilitation wards, the prevalence and nature of aggressive behaviour and the relationship between aggressive behaviour and patient characteristics and ward factors.

The aggressive behaviour of all 220 inpatients within the rehabilitation program of a large psychiatric hospital in Victoria was assessed using the Staff Observation Aggression Scale.

Physical assaults occurred at a rate of 97.6 per 100 patients per year. About 40% of all incidents appeared to be unprovoked. Most physical incidents involved use of body parts and use of a weapon was uncommon. Aggression was most often directed at a staff member. Serious injury was rare. Aggressive behaviour was correlated with gender and duration of admission for the whole sample; however, there were different correlates of aggressive behaviour for different ward populations and different types of aggression. As for ward variables, time of day but not patient/staffing level was associated with aggressive behaviour.

There was a high rate of aggressive behaviour among patients in rehabilitation wards; this should be taken into consideration in the planning of their community placement. The findings also caution against aggregating different ward populations and types of aggressive behaviour for research.