Reports of attempted or actual physical assaults by patients in the
inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings of a psychiatric facility
within a general hospital were prospectively surveyed during a one-year
period. Among 397 patients discharged during the period, 46 patients were
responsible for 133 violent incidents. Most incidents occurred on the
locked inpatient unit during the daytime and after the first week of
admission. Schizophrenia was the only diagnosis significantly associated
with violence. Hitting was the most prevalent form of violence, and nurses
were the most frequent targets.
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