Attitudes of nurses and nurse managers towards violence risk assessment and management: A cross-sectional study in psychiatric inpatient settings.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT: Workplace violence is a significant challenge in psychiatric hospital care. Some existing practices of violence risk assessment and management are based on nurses' intuition and clinical experience instead of structured tools. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE: Nurses and nurse managers consider violence risk assessment and management their responsibility. Still, nurses and nurse managers have mixed attitudes towards the use of validated risk assessment tools. The attitudes towards service users' positive risk-taking in nurses and nurse managers vary, with some nurses and nurse managers supporting its importance. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Change in nurses' and nurse managers' attitudes towards risk assessment tools is required before their implementation into practice. More profound change in practices towards recovery-oriented care is required also in risk assessment. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Workplace violence is a prevalent issue in psychiatric inpatient care. Prevention efforts require the identification of at-risk service users using validated violence risk assessment tools. The shift in violence prevention emphasises preventive measures and collaborative risk assessment together with service users. Nurses have a central role in this process. Therefore, their attitudes are crucial when implementing evidence-based methods. AIM: To assess the attitudes of nurses and nurse managers towards violence risk assessment and management. METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey in Finnish psychiatric inpatient care. Data analysis was conducted with statistical methods. The STROBE guideline was used in reporting. RESULTS: Nurses (n = 142) valued risk assessment and felt that it was their responsibility. Attitudes towards service users' risk-taking as part of their recovery varied. Nurses had mixed attitudes regarding the effectiveness of risk assessment tools. Older participants and nurse managers had more positive attitudes towards risk assessment tools. DISCUSSION: The study findings highlight a feeling of responsibility of nurses towards violence risk assessment and at the same time their preference towards their own clinical judgement. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Understanding nurses' attitudes is crucial in training and implementation processes to address concerns, provide support and enhance positive attitudes.

Effects of entrapment, anger, psychological flexibility, and self-compassion on the ward climate and reactive aggression in forensic psychiatric hospital patients.

This study aimed to investigate the double mediation effect of entrapment and anger, as well as the moderated mediation effect of psychological flexibility and self-compassion on the relationship between the forensic psychiatric hospital ward climate and reactive aggression perceived by patients. A self-reporting method was used to measure ward climate, entrapment, anger, reactive aggression, psychological flexibility, and self-compassion in a sample of 246 participants being treated at the National Forensic Psychiatric Hospital. The relational model was verified according to the structural equation model analysis, and the double mediation effect of the conditional process model was verified using a Process macro. The results showed that both the simple mediation effect and the double mediation effect of entrapment and anger were statistically significant. Psychological flexibility significantly moderated the relationship between ward climate and entrapment, ward climate and anger-in, and significantly influenced the reduction of reactive aggression. When psychological flexibility was higher, ward climate did not cause entrapment, and the intensity of anger-in and reactive aggression was reduced. Self-compassion significantly reduced entrapment, and the higher the self-compassion, the lesser the entrapment. Finally, psychological flexibility and self-compassion moderated the indirect effect through entrapment and the indirect effect through anger-in on the relationship between the ward climate and reactive aggression. Hence, the moderated mediation effect by psychological flexibility and self-compassion was confirmed. To conclude our study, its limitations are outlined, and practical therapeutic intervention for preventing reactive aggression in forensic hospital patients is discussed.

Analysis of antimicrobial drug usage in psychiatric specialized hospitals during the pandemic in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare antimicrobial drug usage in our hospital to Jiangsu Province and China from 2020 to 2022. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A detailed analysis was performed using data from the National Antimicrobial Drug Clinical Application Monitoring Network. Several parameters were studied: the rate of antimicrobial drug use, number and types of drugs used, the rate of combined use, rate of microbiological examinations, drug use intensity, and cumulative Defined Daily Doses (DDDs). RESULTS: From 2020 to 2022, our hospital's antimicrobial drug usage rate was consistently lower than Jiangsu Province and China. The average number of drug types and the combined drug use rate were higher in 2020 but fell below those in Jiangsu Province and China in 2021 and 2022. Our microbiological examination rate consistently surpassed that of Jiangsu Province and China. Furthermore, our Antimicrobial Usage Density and cumulative DDDs were notably lower. While AUD remained stable, DDDs showed a decreasing trend. The most dominant drug in DDDs was cefditoren, a third-generation cephalosporin. CONCLUSIONS: During the pandemic years, our hospital not only met the requirements for antimicrobial drug usage, microbiological examination, AUD, and cumulative DDDs but also demonstrated a consistent year-by-year decrease in drug usage and DDDs.

Psychiatric Home-Visiting Nurses' Views on the Care Information Required of Psychiatric Hospital Nurses.

The "construction of a community-based comprehensive care system for mental disorders" has been promoted in Japan. However, nurses in psychiatric hospitals do not intervene with community resources and support networks in Japan. This study aimed to determine the care information required by home visit nurses from psychiatric hospital nurses. A qualitative descriptive research design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine psychiatric home-visiting nurses, and content analysis was performed to analyze the data. Findings revealed 319 narratives about the information that psychiatric home-visiting nurses seek from psychiatric hospital nurses, which were classified into six main categories. Information needed for home-visiting nurses to provide care includes the following : 1) to build trust with home-visiting service users, 2) to help home-visiting service users live according to their wishes, 3) to help home-visiting service users continue treatment in the community, 4) to perform symptom management, 5) to provide family care, and 6) to protect the safety of home visiting nurses during home visits. Nurses in psychiatric hospitals should communicate this information to nurses who provide psychiatric home care. This will improve the quality of continuing care for home care users and support their recovery in community living. J. Med. Invest. 71 : 162-168, February, 2024.

Pilot Study Focused on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Health Access Behaviors of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Regarding Suicide Prevention.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of a web-based education module on the knowledge, attitudes, and ratings of willingness to access help related to suicide prevention in psychiatric-mental health nurses. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was employed. Registered nurses from two academic health center units and a 239-bed Psychiatric Hospital were invited to participate. Scores on knowledge of suicide risk and prevention, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intent to seek help upon experiencing suicidal ideations were obtained before and after administering a 25-min web-based training. RESULTS: Twenty-nine participants completed the pre-survey, web-based education module, and post-survey. Significant increases from baseline in the scores on knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions related to help-seeking behaviors for nurse suicide prevention were noted. Perceived behavioral control median scores increased but were not statistically significant. More than 40% of the participants reported having experienced suicidal thoughts. CONCLUSIONS: Further study is needed to determine contributors to this higher rate. Understanding the effectiveness of strategies to reduce nurse suicide can provide insights into building better nurse suicide prevention programs.

Relationships between medications used in a mental health hospital and types of medication errors: A cross-sectional study over an 8-year period.

BACKGROUND: Particularities in psychiatry care can increase the risk of medication errors (MEs). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the MEs that occurred in a psychiatric hospital and to quantify relationships between the use of certain types of medication and the type of MEs. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective register based cross-sectional study in a French psychiatric hospital (2014-2021). All MEs were analyzed using ALARM method to identify type, stage of occurring and interception (defenses), consequences, drug involved and root causes. The prevalence-odds ratio (POR) was calculated to estimate relationships between five selected medication situations (long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIA), oral liquid dosage forms in a multiple-unit-container (OLDS-MC), psychotropic drugs (PD), controlled medicines (CM) or high-alert drugs) and the type of MEs occurred. RESULTS: Among the 609 MEs reported, wrong dose (32.2%), wrong drug (30.3%), omission (14.2%) and wrong patient (12.9%) were frequently observed. The ME occurrence stage were prescribing (55.3%) and administration (30.2%). Medication order review intercepted 77.9% of MEs. CM or LAIA increased the risk of medication omission (POR: 3.9, 95%CI: 1.8-8.4 and 2.5, 95%CI; 1.2-5.1, respectively) while the use of high-alert medications decreased it (0.2, 95%CI: 0.1-0.8). OLDS-MC and PD were more likely to be administered to the wrong patient (6.1, 95%CI: 3.3-11.4 and 16.1, 95%CI: 7.2-35.8). LAIA were associated with an increased risk of wrong dose (3.4, 95%CI: 1.8-6.3). Actual errors risk was lower with high-alert drugs (0.5, 95%CI: 0.3-09), but higher with CM (3.5, 95%CI: 1.5-8.0), OLDS-MC (2.1, 95%CI: 1.2-3.8) and PD (2.5, 95%CI: 1.8-3.5). Patients exposed to high-alert drugs were likely to have a serious error (3.5, 95%CI: 1.2-10.4). CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds an innovative approach to analyze MEs by demonstrating that certain medication situations were more likely to lead to certain types of error. This enables the most appropriate prevention barriers to be put in place to intercept ME.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescent mental health in-patient service use in England: interrupted time-series analysis of national patient records.

BACKGROUND: During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and young people (CYP) faced significant restrictions. The virus and mitigation approaches significantly impacted how health services could function and be safely delivered. AIMS: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on CYP psychiatric admission trends during lockdown 1 (started 23 Mar 2020) and lockdown 2 (started 5 Nov 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. METHOD: Routinely collected, retrospective English administrative data regarding psychiatric hospital admissions, length of stay and patient demographic factors were analysed using an interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) to estimate the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns 1 and 2 on service use trends. We analysed data of 6250 CYP (up to 18 years of age) using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis with Newey-West standard errors to handle autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity. RESULTS: Psychiatric hospital admissions for CYP significantly fell during lockdown 1, and then fell even further during lockdown 2. A greater proportion of admissions during lockdown were out of area or to independent sector units. During lockdown, the average age of CYP admitted was higher, and a greater proportion were female. There was also a significant increase in the proportion of looked-after children and CYP from the most socioeconomically deprived areas admitted during lockdown 2. CONCLUSIONS: During both lockdowns, fewer CYP had psychiatric admissions. The subsequent rise in admissions for more socioeconomically deprived CYP and looked-after children suggests that these CYP may have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, or overlooked during earlier phases.

The Role of the Built Environment as a Therapeutic Intervention in Mental Health Facilities: A Systematic Literature Review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic literature review synthesizes and assesses empirical research concerning the use of the built environment as a therapeutic intervention in adult mental health inpatient facilities. The review explores the impact of facility design on patient outcomes. BACKGROUND: There is a growing recognition that the built environment in mental health facilities must strike a balance between ensuring safety and providing a therapeutic atmosphere. A review addressing how facility design contributes to this therapeutic environment is warranted. METHODS: Database searches were conducted in CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception up to March 10, 2022. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN50) critical appraisal checklists were used to assess the quality of included studies. RESULTS: Of the 44 peer-reviewed studies identified from nine countries, several factors emerged as vital for the therapeutic environment in mental health inpatient facilities. These included personal spaces prioritizing privacy and control of the environment, daylight-optimized spaces, versatile communal areas promoting activities and interaction, designated areas for visits and spiritual/contemplative reflection, homelike environments, the inclusion of artwork in units, open nursing stations, and dedicated female-only areas. Yet, there is a need for research yielding stronger evidence-based designs harmonizing with therapeutic needs. CONCLUSION: This review offers initial guidance on designing mental health facilities that foster a therapeutic environment, while highlighting that the influence of facility design on mental health inpatients is considerably under-researched.

Patient satisfaction and their determinants in outpatient department of a tertiary public hospital in Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction is a vital metric for assessing healthcare quality and delivering patient-centered care. It can predict service utilization patterns by determining healthcare users' contentment with their providers. Consequently, evaluating patient satisfaction and its underlying factors is crucial to maintaining the quality of healthcare services. The present study aimed to assess patient satisfaction and its determinants in a tertiary care public hospital in Nepal. In this research, a cross-sectional design was employed to examine patient satisfaction within the Outpatient Department of Mental Hospital Lagankhel, Nepal. The study adopted a systematic random sampling approach for respondent selection, and stringent measures were implemented to uphold the validity and reliability of the collected data. To assess patient satisfaction comprehensively, the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-III (PSQ-III), developed by the RAND Corporation, was employed in conjunction with relevant sociodemographic variables. Utilizing mean scores and percentages, we calculated satisfaction levels across various dimensions. Additionally, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between patient satisfaction dimensions and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: This study encompassed perspective of 206 participants, with 57.3% representing patient relatives and 51% being male, median age of 32 years (standard deviation: 12.53). Notably, patients reported higher levels of satisfaction, particularly within the interpersonal relationship dimension, while the technical quality domain received comparatively lower satisfaction ratings. Multinomial logistic regression analysis underscored the significance of sociodemographic factors in shaping patient satisfaction, with age (p = 0.008), type of residence (p = 0.001), occupation (p = 0.0019), income status (p = 0.014), time to reach the healthcare facility (p = 0.013), and insurance enrollment status (p = 0.017) all demonstrating significant associations. These findings illuminate the intricate qualities of patient satisfaction within our healthcare context, offering actionable insights for enhancement and guiding the trajectory of future research endeavors. CONCLUSIONS: Overall patient expressed satisfaction with service provided by tertiary care hospital, however continuous improvement remains essential. Conducting large-scale, nationwide studies across hospital tiers is vital. This data-driven approach empowers policymakers to allocate resources effectively, inform decision-making, and enact policies that exceed patient expectations, fostering a healthcare system of unparalleled excellence.

Changes in institution for mental diseases (IMD) ownership status and insurance acceptance over time.

State Medicaid programs are prohibited from using federal dollars to pay institutions for mental diseases (IMDs)-freestanding psychiatric facilities with more than 16 beds. Increasingly, regulatory mechanisms have made payment of treatment in these settings substantially more feasible. This study evaluates if changing financial incentives are associated with increases in for-profit ownership among IMD facilities relative to non-IMD facilities, as well as greater increases in Medicaid acceptance among for-profit IMD facilities relative to for-profit non-IMD facilities. We used data from the 2014-2020 National Mental Health Services Surveys and examined 11 945 facility-years. Relative to non-IMDs, the increase in for-profit ownership among IMDs was 6.6 percentage points greater. The largest proportional change in Medicaid acceptance occurred among for-profit IMD facilities relative to for-profit non-IMDs (18.5 percentage points). Existing research is mixed on the quality of inpatient and residential psychiatric care provided in for-profit vs nonprofit and public facilities, as well as in IMD relative to non-IMD facilities. As payment policy increasingly incentivizes for-profit facilities to enter the psychiatric care space, we should be mindful of the impact of these decisions on patient safety.

Types of Psychiatric Beds and Mental Health Services in 16 Latin American Countries, 1990-2020.

OBJECTIVE: Latin America has undergone major changes in psychiatric services over the past three decades. The authors aimed to assess the availability of service data and changes in psychiatric services in this region during the 1990-2020 period. METHODS: The authors formed a research network to collect data on psychiatric service indicators gathered between 1990 and 2020 from national registries in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Indicators included psychiatric beds in psychiatric and general hospitals overall, for children and adolescents, and for forensic populations; residential beds for substance use treatment; treatment slots in residential facilities and day hospitals; and outpatient facilities. RESULTS: Data availability varied among countries, service indicators, and time points. The median prevalence of psychiatric beds decreased in psychiatric hospitals from 5.1 to 3.0 per 100,000 people (-42%) and in general hospitals from 1.0 to 0.8 (-24%). The median prevalence estimates of specialized psychiatric beds for children and adolescents (0.18) and for forensic populations (0.04) remained unchanged. Increases in prevalence were observed for residential beds for substance use treatment (from 0.40 to 0.57, 43% increase), available treatment slots in residential facilities (0.67 to 0.79, 17%), treatment slots in day hospitals (0.41 to 0.54, 32%), and outpatient facilities (0.39 to 0.93, 138%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that treatment capacity shifted from inpatient to outpatient and community care. Most countries had a bed shortage for acute psychiatric care, especially for children and adolescents and forensic patients. More comprehensive and standardized mental health service registries are needed.

Ontological insecurity of inattentiveness: Conceptualizing how risk management practices impact on patient recovery when admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital.

Risk management which assesses and mitigates risks such as suicide and violence is under scrutiny, particularly within psychiatric inpatient settings. Restrictive practices, which result from risk assessment, such as observations, physical restraint and ward seclusion can impact negatively on patient recovery, hindering abilities to develop a meaningful life that emphasizes purpose, hope and autonomy, despite experiencing mental distress. Yet, less is known about the impact from the patient's perspective when first admitted to hospital, a period which among other reasons may come with increasing risk management practices owing to the clinical uncertainties about patient risks. In this grounded theory study, we explore the impact on recovery, interviewing 15 adult participants with patient experiences of being in an acute hospital. The main theme of the study, termed a core category with a grounded theory, was identified as "ontological insecurity of inattentiveness". This highlighted a staff inattentiveness with involving patients with risk management and explaining the purposes of the practice, which raised insecurities about what was happening to the patients when admitted to hospital. Four subcategories support the core category; discounting the patients' experiences to gain a meaningful grasp of risk management, ambiguity about risk management rules, particularly the reasons around their use, forebodingness to the hospital environment and, management from afar, with patients feeling scrutinized from observations without a voice to offer different views. It is hoped these findings will add to the field of patient involvement in psychiatric inpatient settings, proposing attempts to raise understanding and inclusivity of risk management, starting when first admitted to hospital.

Factors associated with the oral health status of patients with schizophrenia: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral function deterioration attributed to ageing and medications is one of the main contributory factors of dysphagia. Therefore, oral health management is essential in older patients with schizophrenia. However, no previous studies have evaluated the oral function in patients with schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE: We surveyed patients with schizophrenia to identify factors associated with ageing-related variations in oral function. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 34 male patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who were hospitalised at a psychiatric hospital between July and September 2021 and underwent a screening examination during dental care. The survey items included basic information, oral hygiene information, oral (oral diadochokinesis [ODK] and tongue pressure), physical function, and nutritional status. Thirty-six male community-dwelling older individuals were included as controls, and their outcomes were compared with those of patients with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Compared with healthy older adults, patients with schizophrenia demonstrated significantly lower teeth numbers, ODK, and calf circumference (CC) (p < .05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that ODK was associated with age and schizophrenia (p < .05). Conversely, tongue pressure was associated with CC (p < .05), suggesting different factors' association with the parameters indicating decreased oral function. CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings suggest that older patients with schizophrenia have decreased tongue pressure and generalised muscle mass, highlighting the need to manage oral function. Interventions for tongue pressure were more strongly associated with muscle mass and could be easier to manage than those with disease-dependent changes in ODK. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Restraint and Seclusion Practices and Policies in U.S. Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals.

Over the last 30 years, there have been significant efforts to reduce the use of restraint and seclusion in psychiatric hospitals. Although authors have previously described restraint policies and practices in general psychiatry settings across the United States, this study is the first to attempt to describe policies regarding those practices in forensic hospital settings. We review the history of restraint and seclusion use in the United States, placing it within an international context. We then describe the results of a national survey of state forensic services directors regarding restraint modalities and policies in forensic hospital facilities. Twenty-nine respondents representing 25 states completed the survey. The results indicate that physical holds are the most frequently available method of restraint and that restraint chairs are the least frequently available. Most respondents reported having a policy regulating the use of restraint in their facilities, most commonly at the institutional level.

Grounds for admitting a mentally ill person without their consent to a psychiatric hospital under the application procedure. / Przeslanki przyjecia osoby chorej psychicznie bez jej zgody do szpitala psychiatrycznego w trybie wnioskowym.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to present the authors´ comments on the analysis of the conditions for admitting a person to a psychiatric hospital against their will on the basis of a judgment issued by a guardianship court as part of proceedings initiated at the request of an authorized entity, and the assumptions contained therein are based on applicable normative acts. METHODS: The method of analyzing the current provisions of medical law was used, and of the social security law were also referred to. The judicature of the courts, in particular the Supreme Court, was collected, presented and considered, which constitute a practical guide in assessing whether or not the conditions for admitting a patient to a psychiatric hospital without their consent have been met. RESULTS: Placing a mentally ill person in a psychiatric hospital without their consent, in a situation where the person does not pose a direct threat to their health and life, or to the health and life of third parties, and does not pose a threat to public safety, is quite a specific restriction of the human right to freedom, sanctioned by the state. CONCLUSIONS: The provision of Article 29 (1) of the Mental Health Act is a special provision, it should be interpreted strictly, without referring to the principles of broad interpretation or analogy, and the supreme directive of the courts' actions should be the requirement that the ruling should be purposeful from the point of view of the good and interest of the person concerned.

Factors affecting readmission of adolescent mental healthcare users to a psychiatric hospital.

Background: Adolescent mental illness is increasing worldwide, leading to more admissions to psychiatric institutions. Many adolescents may require multiple readmissions, which is disruptive to their holistic well-being and costly for the healthcare sector. Identifying especially modifiable risk factors for readmission remains an important step in providing potential areas for improving patient care. Aim: This study investigated the risk factors associated with the readmission of adolescent mental healthcare users to a specialist psychiatric unit. Setting: The specialist adolescent unit at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital. Methods: In this retrospective study, the clinical files of 345 adolescents admitted between 2015 and 2019 were reviewed. The primary outcome variable was readmission, that is, whether a patient was readmitted to Weskoppies Hospital (n = 98) compared to those with no recorded readmission (n = 247). Results: Readmitted adolescents were significantly younger on first admission compared to the non-readmitted group (13.46 vs 14.26, p = 0.016). Bivariate analysis showed that the readmitted group had a much higher rate of non-adherence to treatment (38.1% vs 10.5%, p = < 0.001). Patients with a family history of mental illness had a significantly higher risk of readmission (52.2% vs 37.5%, p = 0.015). Conclusions: Adolescents were more likely to be readmitted if they had first admission at a younger age, a family history of mental illness or non-adherence to treatment. Contribution: Identifying especially modifiable risk factors for readmission of adolescents to improve patient care, particularly in the South African context where there is a paucity of research on this topic.

Discursos e imágenes sobre la desigualdad. Políticas públicas e institucionalización de la locura en el noroeste argentino (1935-1954) / Discourses and images on inequality. Public policy and institutionalization of madness in the argentinean northwest (1935-1954)

En la presente investigación analizaremos la primera institución psiquiátrica del noroeste argentino, específicamente en la provincia de Tucumán, el Hospital de Alienados (HA), desde el evento que impulsó su creación -la negativa de traslados interprovinciales de pacientes a colonias nacionales en 1935- hasta el retorno a dicha práctica por parte del Estado nacional -en 1954-. Hasta la creación del HA, las posibles respuestas para las personas con problemáticas psiquiátricas eran el traslado a instituciones en otras provincias o el encierro en un asilo de la ciudad y en establecimientos policiales. Ante las graves consecuencias de las últimas alternativas, y la cancelación de los traslados, tuvo que ser el propio Estado provincial el que hiciera frente a la problemática. El HA se constituyó como el primero en Argentina en pertenecer a un Estado provincial y no depender de las arcas nacionales. Este trabajo inaugural en los estudios historiográficos de la región nos permitirá analizar algunos procesos institucionales de las políticas en salud mental a nivel provincial y nacional, las concepciones sobre locura y encierro que se sostenían en aquella época, el flagelo de la pobreza como causa para enloquecer y el efecto de todo lo anterior en la opinión pública.(AU)

In the present investigation we will analyze the first psychiatric institution in northwestern Argentina, specifically in the province of Tucumán, the Hospital de Alienados (HA), from the event that prompted its creation -the refusal of interprovincial transfers of patients to national colonies in 1935- until the return to this practice by the national State -in 1954-Until the creation of the HA, the possible responses for people with psychiatric problems were transfer to institutions in other provinces or confinement in a city asylum and in police establishments. Given the serious consequences of the last alternatives, and the cancellation of the transfers, it had to be the provincial State itself that faced the problem. The HA was established as the first in Argentina to belong to a provincial State and not depend on the national coffers. This inaugural work in the historiographical studies of the region will allow us to analyze some institutional processes of mental health policies at the provincial and national level, the conceptions about madness and confinement that were held at that time, the scourge of poverty as a cause of craziness, and the effect of all of the above on public opinion.(AU)

Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Distancing on the Incidence of Inpatient Aggression at a Public Psychiatric Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic-related social distancing measures on the incidence of inpatient aggression at a public psychiatric hospital Methods: Data was gathered from the hospital's unusual incident (UI) database for the time period ranging from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. Based on the implementation of major social distancing measures, March 6, 2020, was set as a cutoff time point to categorize aggressive events into pre-COVID and post-COVID groups. Data was analyzed using Chi-square tests and general linear modeling. The p-value was set at ≤0.05. RESULTS: After the implementation of social distancing measures, there was a decrease in the absolute number of inpatient aggressive events from 15.0/week to 12.6/week (mean difference: 2.4/week, p=0.032). However, this decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in hospital census. There was a decrease in the proportion of seven-day and 14-day post-admission aggressive events by 5.4% and 12.1%, respectively. Concurrently, there was a 4.9% increase in recurrent aggression. Emergency psychiatric medication administration and the use of physical restraint decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Consistent with previous results, this study reports a decrease in the incidence of inpatient aggression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing measures can be utilized as a tool to decrease the incidence of inpatient aggression and the use of physical restraints.

Integration of a peer practitioner in a hospital unit for patients with psychotic disorders: an exploratory qualitative study.

Introduction: Studies on the integration of peer mental health practitioners (PMHP) in hospitals are sparse, despite significant benefits being reported for patients and professionals. The integration of PMHP requires the consideration of several parameters and a change in the culture of care. This study aims to understand the impact of the integration of a PMHP in a hospital unit caring for patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods: A qualitative content analysis of three focus groups with the interdisciplinarity team were conducted. A consulting PMHP was integrated into the entire research process. Results: Data analysis revealed five main themes: the importance of integration, benefits for patients linked to the identification process, benefits for the team and institution, potentials risks, and perspectives. Discussion: The study was conducted in a hospital setting with patients suffering from severe psychiatric disorders associated with behavioral disturbances. The benefits reported in the results outline the feasibility of PMHP integration in an acute psychiatric care setting. Nevertheless, further formalization of the PMHP role is required to minimize possible areas of tension between respective fields of activity of each professional.

Psychiatric emergency department visits during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated the negative impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health. Aims: To examine changes in the Chinese psychiatric emergency department (PED) visits for mental health crises that occurred during the pandemic. Methods: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, PED visit counts from the largest psychiatric hospital in China between 2018 and 2020 were investigated. Electronic medical records of 2020 PED visits were extracted during the COVID-19 pandemic period and compared for the same period of 2018 and 2019. Results: Overall, PED visits per year increased from 1,767 in 2018 to 2210 (an increase of 25.1%) in 2019 and 2,648 (an increase of 49.9%) in 2020. Compared with 2 years before the epidemic, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of PED visits among patients with stress disorders, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders increased significantly. In terms of the distribution of demographic characteristics, age shows a younger trend, while the gender difference is not significant. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PED care-seeking increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need to integrate mental health services for patients with stress, sleep, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders during public health crises.