Curtailing The Use Of Restraint In Psychiatric Settings

Abstract

This article explains past and current theory and practice regarding the use of coercion with persons targeted for psychiatric treatment and outlines the benefits of reducing the use of force in psychiatric settings for consumers, staff, and the wider society. Resources are described for building explicitly noncoercive norms in a therapeutic community by establishing a coherent humanistic theoretical basis, with special attention to trauma theory. The article analyzes the causes of human aggression and the impact of violence on the healing process and describes case examples of nonviolent clinical settings. Appendices offer tips for practical application.