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Characteristics of International Assaultive Psychiatric Patients: Review of Published Findings, 2017–2022

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Abstract

Since the 1960s, empirical research has focused on a better understanding of the characteristics of assaultive psychiatric patients. International research from 1960 to 2017 indicated that male and female patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder presented the greatest risk for assault with nursing personnel being at higher risk. This present review of studies sought to assess the latest research findings on assaultive patients for the most recent five-year period, 2017–2022. It was hypothesized that patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorders would present the greatest assault risk for nursing personnel. The studies in this review supported this hypothesis. Assaults by patients with schizophrenia and substance abuse has been a consistent finding worldwide for 62 years of published research. Explanations for these findings, the possible role of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in assaultive patients, and an updated methodological review are presented.

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Funding

The authors have no funding from any public or private sources, no conflicts with property rights or any holdings by the author or any family members. The authors have no commercial gain from this study and did not receive any honoraria, stocks, paid consultations, or referrals for this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School The ASAP Program, 7 Westchester Road, Newton, MA, 02458, USA

    Raymond B. Flannery

  2. The Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP), Boston, MA, USA

    Georgina J. Flannery

Authors
  1. Raymond B. Flannery
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  2. Georgina J. Flannery
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Correspondence to Raymond B. Flannery.

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This is a review of the literature article only. There were no human subjects and therefore no need for an IRB review, nor informed consent, nor committee involvement, and no need to obtain consent to publish. Similarly, there were no animals involved in this review with no need to discuss and present a statement and review of animal welfare in this project.

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Flannery, R.B., Flannery, G.J. Characteristics of International Assaultive Psychiatric Patients: Review of Published Findings, 2017–2022. Psychiatr Q 94, 559–568 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-023-10050-x

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