Aggressive behaviour in a psychiatric observation ward.

Episodes of aggression were monitored, using a questionnaire, for a 6-month period in the female observation ward of a General Psychiatric Hospital. The results show that: a small group of schizophrenic patients were responsible for most of the incidents; nursing staff and other patients fell victim equally frequently; few of the incidents were predictable. Psychotic symptoms appear to be the main cause. More effective treatment of some persistently psychotic, apparently neuroleptic-resistant, aggressive patients should reduce the prevalence of violent behaviour. Drug-free observation periods in more recently admitted patients, or patients involved in pharmacological studies, however, were not associated with violent incidents.