Abstract
Although aggression is part of daily life in psychiatric units for adolescents, empirical data on its prevalence are sparse. Only few studies have described prevalence of aggressive incidents in adolescent psychiatric wards, and data in forensic psychiatric care are even more limited. Available studies reported high prevalence rates of aggression, ranging from 0.4 to 2.4 incidents of aggression per day across (forensic) child and adolescent psychiatric units. Between 27 and 78 % of all admitted youth committed an aggressive act. In this study, we collected systematically registered data of all aggressive incidents from the first 2 years (2010–2012) on a newly established forensic adolescent psychiatric unit, which used a formal aggression management program embedded in the social competence model, which is based on early intervention in the ‘chain of behavior’ to prevent any further escalation. The inclusion of also minor aggressive incidents is unique in the literature and the clinical relevance is highlighted. A mean of one incident a day took place, with each adolescent involved in at least one incident. Notably, 1.7 aggressive incidents per month made seclusion of restraint use necessary. Based on the social competence theory, the aggression management model suggests intervening early in the cascade of aggression, in order to prevent further escalation and reduce the need for intrusive interventions. Evidence supported that aggression is a contextual event, as external factors clearly influence the incidence of aggression. Aggression management should be built on both relational and structural security.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
The number of offenses is a huge underestimation of the actual number of offenses. Repeated similar offenses were only rated once. For example daily fights at primary school will be rated as only 1 offense.
A list of possible interventions is presented and the staff member denotes which of these are applicable for the incident. In Fig. 5 these interventions are all presented. Multiple interventions can be scored for one incident.
References
Crocker JH, Stargatt R, Denton C (2010) Prediction of aggression and restraint in child inpatient units. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 44(5):443–449
Menninger WW (1993) Management of the aggressive and dangerous patient. Bull Menn Clin 57(2):208–217
Vaaler AE et al (2011) Short-term prediction of threatening and violent behaviour in an Acute Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit based on patient and environment characteristics. BMC Psychiatry 11:44
Benson A et al (2003) Discourses of blame: accounting for aggression and violence on an acute mental health inpatient unit. Soc Sci Med 57(5):917–926
Secker J et al (2004) Understanding the social context of violent and aggressive incidents on an inpatient unit. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 11(2):172–178
Davis S (1991) Violence by psychiatric inpatients: a review. Hosp Community Psychiatry 42(6):585–590
Burke JD et al (2005) Developmental transitions among affective and behavioral disorders in adolescent boys. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 46(11):1200–1210
Fergusson DM, Horwood LJ (1996) The role of adolescent peer affiliations in the continuity between childhood behavioral adjustment and juvenile offending. J Abnorm Child Psychol 24(2):205–221
van der Helm GH et al (2012) Group climate and empathy in a sample of incarcerated boys. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol 56(8):1149–1160
Estryn-Behar M, v.d.H B, Camerino D, Fry C, Le Nezet O, Conway PM, Hasselhorn HM (2008) Violence risks in nursing—results from the European ‘NEXT’ study. Occup Med 58(2):107–114
Herath P et al (2011) Patient initiated aggression—prevalence and impact for general practice staff. Aust Fam Physician 40(6):415–418
Nijman HL et al (2005) Fifteen years of research with the staff observation aggression scale: a review. Acta Psychiatr Scand 111(1):12–21
Tremmery S et al (2012) Managing aggression in a forensic psychiatric unit for adolescents: literature review and clinical implementation. Tijdschr Psychiatr 54(9):797–806
Berntsen E et al (2011) Temporal trends in self harm and aggression on a paediatric mental health ward. Australas Psychiatry 19(1):64–69
Day HD, Franklin JM, Marshall DD (1998) Predictors of aggression in hospitalized adolescents. J Psychol 132(4):427–434
Garrison WT et al (1990) Aggression and counteraggression during child psychiatric hospitalization. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 29(2):242–250
Phillips NL, Stargatt R, Brown A (2012) Risk assessment of self- and other-directed aggression in adolescent psychiatric inpatient units. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 46(1):40–46
Vivona JM et al (1995) Self- and other-directed aggression in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 34(4):434–444
Boxer P (2007) Aggression in very high-risk youth: examining developmental risk in an inpatient psychiatric population. Am J Orthopsychiatry 77(4):636–646
Kelsall M, Dolan M, Bailey S (1995) Violent incidents in an adolescent forensic unit. Med Sci Law 35(2):150–158
Tompsett CJ, Domoff S, Boxer P (2011) Prediction of restraints among youth in a psychiatric hospital: application of translational action research. J Clin Psychol 67(4):368–382
Kaltiala-Heino RB, J, Selander M, Työläjärvi M, Kahila K (2007) Aggression management in an adolescent forensic unit. Int J Forensic Ment Health 6:12
Gezondheidsraad V (2005) Jaarverslag van de Vlaamse Gezondheidsraad 2004. Vlaamse Gezondheidsraad, Brussels, p 66
Ter Metz ESH (2006) Competentievergroting in een Forensische Jeugdpsychiatrische kliniek. Handboek. PI Research, Duivendrecht
Masters KJ et al (2002) Practice parameter for the prevention and management of aggressive behavior in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions, with special reference to seclusion and restraint. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41(2 Suppl):4–25
APA (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC
Lodewijks HP et al (2008) Predictive validity of the structured assessment of violence risk in youth (SAVRY) during residential treatment. Int J Law Psychiatry 31(3):263–271
Kay SR, Wolkenfeld F, Murrill LM (1988) Profiles of aggression among psychiatric patients. I. Nature and prevalence. J Nerv Ment Dis 176(9):539–546
Steinert T, Wolfle M, Gebhardt RP (2000) Measurement of violence during in-patient treatment and association with psychopathology. Acta Psychiatr Scand 102(2):107–112
Molenberghs GVG (2005) Models for discrete longitudinal data. Springer, New York
Hall DB (2000) Zero-inflated Poisson and binomial regression with random effects: a case study. Biometrics 56(4):1030–1039
Baeza I et al (2013) Frequency, characteristics and management of adolescent inpatient aggression. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 23(4):271–281
Boxer P (2010) Covariation of self- and other-directed aggression among inpatient youth: continuity in the transition to treatment and shared risk factors. Aggress Behav 36(3):205–217
Berg J, Kaltiala-Heino R, Valimaki M (2011) Management of aggressive behaviour among adolescents in forensic units: a four-country perspective. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 18(9):776–785
Kaltiala-Heino RPH, Eronen M (2013) Why do girls freak out? Exploring female rage among adolescents admitted to adolescent forensic psychiatric inpatient care. J Forensic Psychiatry Psychol 24:27
Eronen M, Angermeyer MC, Schulze B (1998) The psychiatric epidemiology of violent behaviour. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 33(Suppl 1):S13–S23
Barlow K, Grenyer B, Ilkiw-Lavalle O (2000) Prevalence and precipitants of aggression in psychiatric inpatient units. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 34(6):967–974
Cheung P et al (1997) A prospective study of assaults on staff by psychiatric in-patients. Med Sci Law 37(1):46–52
Ng B et al (2001) Ward crowding and incidents of violence on an acute psychiatric inpatient unit. Psychiatr Serv 52(4):521–525
Rix G, Seymour D (1988) Violent incidents on a regional secure unit. J Adv Nurs 13(6):746–751
Tam E, Engelsmann F, Fugere R (1996) Patterns of violent incidents by patients in a general hospital psychiatric facility. Psychiatr Serv 47(1):86–88
Bowers L et al (2011) The relationship between leadership, teamworking, structure, burnout and attitude to patients on acute psychiatric wards. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 46(2):143–148 APA, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.)1994, Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Conflict of interest
M. De Hert has been a consultant for, received grant/research support and honoraria from, and been on the speakers/advisory boards of AstraZeneca, Lundbeck JA, Janssen-Cilag, European Diabetes Foundation/Lilly, Otsuka, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Takeda. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tremmery, S., Danckaerts, M., Bruckers, L. et al. Registration of aggressive incidents in an adolescent forensic psychiatric unit and implications for further practice. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 23, 823–833 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0534-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0534-y