Seclusion theory reviewed--a benevolent or malevolent intervention?

The Special Hospital Service Authority for England and Wales undertook an extensive international literature review on seclusion as a basis for a proposed extended research project on seclusion in the Special Hospital system. The review highlighted the theoretical foundations of seclusion to be based on therapy, containment or punishment; however, there appeared little work carried out in examining the underlying attitude to these central themes. It was suggested that a further level of analysis, by measuring these attitudes along a benevolent-malevolent scale, may prove helpful in advancing our conceptual understanding of the role seclusion plays as a psychiatric intervention.