Sensory Reduction on the General Milieu of a High-Acuity Inpatient Psychiatric Unit to Prevent Use of Physical Restraints: A Successful Open Quality Improvement Trial.

Background: Impaired sensory gating in patients with acute mental illness predisposes to overstimulation and behavioral dyscontrol.

Objective: Explore use of sensory reduction interventions on a high-acuity inpatient milieu to reduce high assault/restraint rates.

Design: A multidisciplinary team using failure mode and effect analysis to explore high restraint use between 4:00 p.