Static and Dynamic Variables Associated with Inpatient Aggression: A Two-Year Retrospective Study: Variables statiques et dynamiques associées au comportement agressif des patients hospitalisés : étude rétrospective de deux ans

BackgroundAggressive behaviour is common in mental health inpatient units, and can cause physical and psychological harm, low work satisfaction among staff and be disruptive to the clinical care of patients. Identification of static and dynamic variables associated with inpatient aggression may help identify opportunities for intervention to reduce such incidents.MethodWe carried out a two-year retrospective study of consecutive admissions to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the largest mental health facility in Canada. We created a multivariable model of risk factors associated with aggression, which included static and dynamic variables, as well as the Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression (DASA), which was measured daily.ResultsWe included 4419 consecutive admissions comprising 88,124 patient-days. We found that High and Medium DASA scores were strongly associated with subsequent aggression (HR = 9.64, 95% CI = 7.75-11.99, and HR = 3.51, 95% CI = 2.82-4.37, respectively) after controlling for other variables. Other variables associated with aggression included the Aggressive Behaviour Scale of the Resident Assessment Instrument-Mental Health (RAI-ABS), male gender, younger age, ethnicity, PRN (as needed medication) administration, unit type, involuntary admission, medication refusal and self-harm. However, these variables were more weakly associated with subsequent aggression as compared to the DASA score categories.ConclusionsHigher DASA scores are strongly associated with aggression after controlling for a range of other patient variables. Frequent structured measurement of dynamic variables using the DASA may help identify patients most at risk of aggression and assist clinical staff in directing interventions to where they are most needed to reduce aggression on inpatient units.Plain Language Summary TitleWhat Factors Are Linked to Aggression in Mental Health Hospitals? A Two-Year Study.