Weight changes and characteristics of patients associated with weight gain during inpatient psychiatric treatment.

This study investigated weight changes and patient characteristics associated with weight gain in a public psychiatric hospital. A retrospective chart review was conducted on a multi-racial population admitted for psychiatric inpatient treatment. Patients gained an average of 5.

Reducing restraints: alternatives to restraints on an inpatient psychiatric service--utilizing safe and effective methods to evaluate and treat the violent patient.

This paper describes the violence safety program instituted at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York City in 2001, which significantly reduced the use of restraints and seclusion department wide, while providing a safe and therapeutic environment for patient recovery. The hospital service and program instituted is described, followed by restraint and seclusion data since 1998, and the program's results through 2003. Concurrent data in areas that could be affected by a reduction in restraint and seclusion such as self-injurious behaviors and altercations; use of emergency medication; use of special observation and length of stay data are also presented.