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Violent patients within Psychiatric Intensive Care Units: treatment approaches, resistance and the impact upon staff

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2005

Paul Dawson ,
Marc Kingsley  and
Stephen Pereira
Paul Dawson
Affiliation:
Research Psychologist
Marc Kingsley
Affiliation:
Specialist Clinical Psychologist/Adult psychotherapist
Stephen Pereira
Affiliation:
Consultant Psychiatrist

Abstract

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It has become evident that Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) accept aggressive, violent patients often with criminal histories and personality disorders. This paper aims to document the effects that this patient group can have on a PICU and the significant role that psychotherapy can offer this complex patient group. The conclusions have been drawn from psychotherapeutic work on a PICU (Pathways on Tagore, NELMHT). Such patients present unique therapeutic and emotional challenges to staff. As a result staff need to recognise and address these issues. This paper identifies and discusses a number of central themes, challenges and practical skills that may be important in enabling the successful treatment of such patients within a PICU setting.

Keywords

Anger managementviolencePICUs
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , September 2005 , pp. 45 - 53
Copyright
© 2005 NAPICU

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