Violent behaviors in psychiatric emergency departments are a common problem. The aim is to study characteristics of patients who need intense preventive care measures and who act violently.

The study was conducted in a locked short term psychiatric inpatient unit and involved 172 patients admitted in a 8 months period. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained through a review of the medical records. Secclusion, restraint and agressive behaviors were noted on specific nurse sheets.

Aggressive behaviors or intense preventive measures concerned 34% (n=59) of the 172 patients. Among these 59 patients, 61% (n=36) are men and the mean age is 34,9 years, 28 had seclusion, 51 had restraint and 11 had physical aggression or against object aggression. The diagnosis are schizophrenic disorders for 63% (n=37), dependence or substance abuse for 11% (n=7), mania for 10% (n=6), depression for 3,5% (n=2). For 27% (n=16) of them it was first time in Emergency Department and 30,5% (n=18) were intoxicated at admission. The mean neuroleptic treatments dosis of these patients at admission were 656mg (equivalent chlorpromazine).

Patients concerned by seclusion, restraint and aggressive behavior are more frequently men with schizophrenic disorders, high neuroleptic dosis, and various past admissions in the Emergency Department.