Staff strain and social support in a psychiatric hospital following assault by a patient.

Attacks by patients are acknowledged as an important source of stress for psychiatric staff which has ramifications for patients and the nurses' employers as well. Twenty-three psychiatric nurses and one doctor who had been assaulted by a patient at work were interviewed within 72 hours of the incident and twice more within 2 weeks. The levels of strain they experienced and the amount of support provided for them in the time between interviews were measured and correlated. Some subjects reported high levels of strain which persisted well beyond the incident. Support was usually provided on an informal basis and was concentrated in the period immediately after the incident.