[Special observation in inpatient treatment of people with mental illness].

OBJECTIVE: To report the state of research about special observation and to develop implications for the German-speaking countries.
METHODS: Systematic literature search.
RESULTS: The literature consists mainly of descriptive studies. There are no standardized approaches. Use of assistants can have a negative impact on quality of the intervention and may result in an accumulation and change of measures. Nurses play a responsible role in special observation. There are different experiences and perceptions of patients and nurses. Special observation includes both therapeutic and non-therapeutic components.
CONCLUSIONS: The focus should be on therapeutic aspects of observation; particularly involvement and development of hope. Observation might restrict personal freedom and should be used as rarely as possible. Strengthening nurses in decision-making is associated with increased quality. More research is needed regarding the effectiveness, the frequency of utilization and opportunities for prevention. The importance of observation is in contrast to the lack of relevant data. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.