Behavioral characteristics of patients as perceived by mental health practitioners.

The purpose of this study is to explore whether mental health practitioners agree in their perceptions of patients' observable behavioral characteristics. 14 psychiatric residents, 10 nurses and 9 social caseworkers rated 48 patients on a scaled instrument composed of 4 independent psychotic behavioral patterns. The results indicate that there is more perceptual agreement between residents and nurses than there is between these practitioners and social caseworkers. The findings are discussed in relation to Anselm Strauss' presentation of differences in mental health practitioners' use of patients' observable behavior and the resulting staff negotiations.