Effects of Ending the Use of Seclusion and Mechanical Restraint in the Pennsylvania State Hospital System, 2011-2020.

The Pennsylvania State Hospital System's use of containment procedures has been studied for >30 years. This prospective study assessed the effects of ending the use of seclusion and mechanical restraint in the system's six civil hospitals and two forensic centers from 2011 to 2020. The study examined the effect of this change on key safety measures: physical restraint, assaults, aggression, and self-injurious behavior.

Relationship Between Seclusion and Restraint Reduction and Assaults in Pennsylvania's Forensic Services Centers: 2001-2010.

Objective: This prospective study assessed the use of seclusion and restraint in Pennsylvania forensic centers from 2001 through 2010. It also examined the correlation between declining use of containment procedures and patient-to-patient and patient-to-staff assaults.

Methods: The 2,741 episodes of restraint or seclusion involving 801 unique individuals served in state forensic centers during the study period were entered into a uniform database.

Correlation between reduction of seclusion and restraint and assaults by patients in Pennsylvania's state hospitals.

Objective: This prospective study assessed the use of seclusion and restraint in the Pennsylvania state hospital system from 2001 through 2010. It also examined the correlation between declining use of containment procedures and assaults by patients on other patients and staff.

Methods: The 12,900 anonymized records involving the 1,801 unique, civilly committed individuals who were physically or mechanically restrained and secluded in the nine civil hospitals during this study period were entered into a database.