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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 9/2010

01-09-2010 | Original Paper

Incidence of seclusion and restraint in psychiatric hospitals: a literature review and survey of international trends

Authors: Tilman Steinert, Peter Lepping, Renate Bernhardsgrütter, Andreas Conca, Trond Hatling, Wim Janssen, Alice Keski-Valkama, Fermin Mayoral, Richard Whittington

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2010

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify quantitative data on the use of seclusion and restraint in different countries and on initiatives to reduce these interventions.

Methods

Combined literature review on initiatives to reduce seclusion and restraint, and epidemiological data on the frequency and means of use in the 21st century in different countries. Unpublished study was detected by contacting authors of conference presentations. Minimum requirements for the inclusion of data were reporting the incidence of coercive measures in complete hospital populations for defined periods and related to defined catchment areas.

Results

There are initiatives to gather data and to develop new clinical practice in several countries. However, data on the use of seclusion and restraint are scarcely available so far. Data fulfilling the inclusion criteria could be detected from 12 different countries, covering single or multiple hospitals in most counties and complete national figures for two countries (Norway, Finland). Both mechanical restraint and seclusion are forbidden in some countries for ethical reasons. Available data suggest that there are huge differences in the percentage of patients subject to and the duration of coercive interventions between countries.

Conclusions

Databases on the use of seclusion and restraint should be established using comparable key indicators. Comparisons between countries and different practices can help to overcome prejudice and improve clinical practice.
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Metadata
Title
Incidence of seclusion and restraint in psychiatric hospitals: a literature review and survey of international trends
Authors
Tilman Steinert
Peter Lepping
Renate Bernhardsgrütter
Andreas Conca
Trond Hatling
Wim Janssen
Alice Keski-Valkama
Fermin Mayoral
Richard Whittington
Publication date
01-09-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2010
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-009-0132-3

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