Violent patients. Are you prepared to deal with them?

Abstract

The medical community is becoming increasingly concerned about violent patients in healthcare settings. Healthcare professionals should be trained to deal with aggressive patients, and they should have access to a room free of dangerous objects for evaluation and examination. Having security personnel stand by may be appropriate in some cases. Verbal intervention is the key to dealing with violent patients. The safest and most effective pharmacologic intervention is use of benzodiazepines, either alone or in conjunction with antipsychotic agents when indicated. Seclusion or restraint may be needed for some violent patients; in such situations, close patient monitoring and explicit documentation are essential. Physicians can be held liable for injuries patients sustain while being restrained, so staff members should receive instruction in safe physical intervention techniques.