The use of seclusion on a university hospital psychiatric floor.

Abstract

Observation of the use of seclusion rooms on a university hospital psychiatric inpatient floor over a period of one year indicates that seclusion is an effective device for the control of the destructive behavior of a few schizophrenic, hypomanic, organically-impaired, and depressed patients. During this period, 4% of the patients admitted were secluded. Fourteen of 15 secluded patients were discharged to their homes in eight weeks or less. Yet, the possibility remains that in a properly designed setting, with an adequately trained staff, more patients could be helped without recourse to seclusion. Further investigation is needed into means of providing help for the extremely agitated and violent patient who does not immediately respond to drugs or current methods of psychological intervention.