Harms to Consumers of Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities in the United States: An Analysis of News Articles.

Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 7907126 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1096-4673 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01612840 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Issues Ment Health Nurs

Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: [New York, McGraw-Hill]

Hospitals, Psychiatric/*statistics & numerical data ; Mass Media/*statistics & numerical data ; Mental Disorders/*psychology ; Psychiatric Department, Hospital/*statistics & numerical data ; Self-Injurious Behavior/*epidemiology ; Violence/*statistics & numerical data; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Mental Disorders/therapy ; United States

Inpatient psychiatric facilities in the United States lack systematic regulation and monitoring of a variety of patient safety concerns. We conducted a qualitative analysis of 61 news articles to identify common causes and types of harms within inpatient psychiatric facilities, with a focus on physical harm. The news articles reported on patient self-harm, patient-patient violence, and violence between patients and staff, noting that youth, older adults, and veterans were especially vulnerable. Harms occurred throughout the care continuum - at admission, during the inpatient stay, and at discharge - and retaliation towards whistleblowers deterred facility accountability. We recommend 1) addressing staffing shortages, 2) instituting systematic monitoring of critical incidents and the experiences of consumers and staff, 3) improving both inpatient safety and post-discharge community supports, and 4) continued journalistic coverage of harms within inpatient psychiatric facilities.

T32 AA007567 United States AA NIAAA NIH HHS

Date Created: 20180531 Date Completed: 20190905 Latest Revision: 20210127

20231215

10.1080/01612840.2018.1451579

29847200