The Use of Physical Restraints in Polish Psychiatric Hospitals in 1989 and 1996

The use of physical restraints in 11 locked psychiatric wards in Warsaw, Poland, was examined in 1989 and 1996 to determine whether the implementation of the Mental Health Act in 1995 and other political transformations changed this psychiatric practice. All episodes of restraint were documented during a one-month period in both years. Significantly more episodes of restraint occurred in 1996, but the average duration of each episode decreased, the number of episodes per patient fell, and the proportion of episodes due to patient aggression increased. Findings indicate that use of restraint was less arbitrary in 1996, which is likely attributable to the replacement of local institutional rules by national regulations controlling the use of restraint in psychiatric practice.