Despite great improvement in service delivery, patient violence remains a major problem at mental health facilities. Focusing equally on causes, management, and prevention, this groundbreaking book represents the state of knowledge on this crucial topic.Violence in Mental Health Settings brings together salient theories, valuable data, and real-world interventions in one accessible volume. The contributors include psychiatrists, nurses, researchers, and academics (many affiliated with the European Violence in Psychiatry Research Group), offering an integrative context for understanding patient aggression and identifying areas where research is lacking. Chapters review the latest theories of violence, proven prevention strategies, and examples of positive organizational change. Practical highlights include:Assessing and measuring risk: self- versus other-reporting scalesHow the ward environment can contribute to violence ¿ or its preventionBest practice guidelines for verbal, physical, and pharmaceutical interventionsTraining issues and course development in violence managementProfessional coping after patient attacksDeveloping a non-violent culture at the institutional levelThroughout, the material is illustrated liberally with graphs and clinical case examples, and coverage bridges the patient-rights and zero-tolerance ends of the spectrum.Therapists, nurses, social workers, and counselors in hospitals and other inpatient and community facilities will find Violence in Mental Health Settings a source of vital insights and ideas for future policy. Regardless of one¿s setting or specialty, the authors share a critical aim with their readers: a safer and more humane experience.

Introduction A. Measurement and epidemiology 1. Assessing aggression of psychiatric patients: Methods of measurement and its prevalence. Nijman, Bjorkly, Palmstierna & Almvik B. The psychology and sociology of the violent incident 2. Psychological theories of aggression: principles and application to practice Bjorkly 3. From the individual to the interpersonal: Environment and interaction in the escalation of violence in mental health settings Whittington & Richter 4. Users¿ Perceptions and Views on Violence and Coercion in Mental Health Abderhalden, Hahn, Bonner & Galeazzi C. Prediction and management 5. Diversity and consistency in the legal management of involuntary admission and treatment across Europe Hatling, Douzenis & Maguire 6. Prediction of Violence in Inpatient Settings Steinert 7. Non-physical conflict management and de-escalation Richter 8. Coercive measures in the management of imminent violence: restraint, seclusion and enhanced observation Whittington, Baskind & Paterson 9. The pharmacological management of aggression. Goedhard, Stolker, Heerdink, Nijman, Olivier & Egberts D. Improving staff skills in handling incidents 10. Aggression management training programs: Contents, implementation and organization Oud 11. The effects of aggression management training for mental health care and disability care staff: A systematic review Richter, Needham & Kunz E. The organisational context 12. Locating training within a strategic organizational response to aggression and violence McKenna & Paterson 13. Safety and security in psychiatric clinical environments Cowman 14. Ward culture andatmosphere Duxbury, Bjorkdahl & Johnson F. Consequences: handling the aftermath 15. Psychological responses following exposure to violence Needham Conclusion