Patterns of seclusion. A prospective study
Soloff, P.H.; Turner, S.M.
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 169(1): 37-44
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3018 PMID: 7452220 Document Number: 175096
The clinical use of seclusion was studied prospectively on 2 acute treatment units of a university hospital. The incidence, frequency, duration, precipitant and type of seclusion were documented for 59 secluded psychiatic patients through 107 episodes; the data was compared to 159 nonsecluded controls on a variety of demographic, diagnostic and legal variables. Chronicity, legal status on admission and race were patient characteristics correlated with the incidence of seclusion. Mental status and diagnosis were not significantly related to the incidence or the frequency of seclusion. Seclusion was used primarily to restrict physical assault upon staff. There was no relationship between the precipitating event and duration of seclusion, nor any change in duration or restrictiveness of seclusion with repeated episodes. These findings differ markedly from previous reports. The clinical bias toward increased use of seclusion with committed, chronic and black patients, and the independence of cause and duration of seclusion raise legal issues already being pursued in federal courts.