Survey on violent attacks to primary caregivers of patients with severe mental disorder

Abstract

Objective To investigate the current situation of primary caregivers who suffer from violent attacks from patients with severe mental disorder outside of the hospital. Methods A self-made questionnaire was used to investigate 208 caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders from one psychiatry hospital in Beijing. Results The incidence rate of violent behaviors to primary caregivers outside of the hospital was 74.03%; during which verbal assault accounted for 61.54%, threats accounted for 54.33% and physical attacks accounted for 45.19%. Patients often attacked caregivers with their bare hands. Caregivers normally suffered with soft tissue injury and great pain after receiving attack. The main cause of violent attacks was the domination of psychiatric symptoms (81.81%). The main way to deal with these attacks for caregivers was tolerance (69.48%). Multiple-factor analysis showed patients with elder age had low risk, and patients with low education level, single, involuntary hospitalization and many times hospitalization had high risk. Conclusions Primary caregivers suffer a high incidence rate of violent attacks and cannot deal with this properly. Effective nursing interventions should be made in hospitals and communities. Health education should be provided for caregivers to achieve effective intervention and reduce violent attacks and boost the confidence and life quality of caregivers. Key words: Severe mental disorder; Caregivers; Violent attacks