Tingleff, EB., Hounsgaard, L., Bradley, SK., Gildberg, FA. 2018. Forensic psychiatric patientsâ perceptions of situations associated with mechanical restraint: a qualitative interview study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. doi: 10.1111/inm.12549 Article, peer review. Status: Published!
To reduce the use and duration of mechanical restraint in forensic settings and ensure evidence-based patient care, we need more knowledge about patientsâ subjective experiences and perceptions. The aim was to investigate forensic psychiatric patientsâ perceptions of situations associated with the use of mechanical restraint and what they perceive as factors impacting the use and duration of mechanical restraint. Twenty participants were interviewed. Four themes were identiïŹed through a thematic analysis: âovert protest reactionsâ, âsilent protest reactionsâ, âillness-related behaviourâ, and âgenuinely calmâ, which together characterize patientsâ perceptions of their ways of acting and reacting during mechanical restraint episodes. These themes are linked together in two patterns in the process of mechanical restraint: âpattern of protestâ and âpattern of illnessâ. Further research is needed to illuminate the associations between patientsâ perceptions of being subjected to mechanical restraint and ways of acting and reacting through the process of mechanical restraint.