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Sexual Behavior of Psychiatric Inpatients: Hospital Responses and Policy Formulation

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Abstract

Historically, inpatient sexuality has been aneglected issue in hospital policy. Recent studies haveconfirmed sexual activity among individuals with mentalillness and have noted several areas of concern surrounding patient care and sexuality. Wesurveyed private mental health facilities within thestate of Ohio. Twenty-five percent of the respondinghospitals had a formal sexual policy and the majority (72%) said that sexual behavior was aninfrequent problem. Considering the short-term stayscommon at these facilities, policies at suchinstitutions should focus on dealing with situationswhen they occur and properly training and informing staff onissues surrounding sexual activity in psychiatricinpatients.

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Buckley, P.F., Wiechers, I.R. Sexual Behavior of Psychiatric Inpatients: Hospital Responses and Policy Formulation. Community Ment Health J 35, 531–536 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018711318128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018711318128

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