Agitation in the Acute Psychiatric Department

• the number of violent or threatening incidents the first three days of inpatient stay measured with The Staff Observation Aggression Scale - Revised (SOAS-R) with positive scorings of incidents with a severity score >8. [ Time Frame: Up to 4 years. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• the degree of suicidal intention the first three days of inpatient stay measured with the 10 item self-rating VAS-scale administered at discharge from the acute department. [ Time Frame: Up 4 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

The patients are assessed with three rating scales (Components of agitation, The PANSS-EC, The Brøset Violence Checklist) measuring agitation at admittance and day three thus providing a measurement of the differences during three days of in-patient stay. Therapeutic measures and interventions taken are assessed daily with a 18-item checklist. Threatening and violent incidents are recorded with The SOAS-R.

Blood samples for immunological parameters are taken at admittance and discharge giving opportunity to assess changes through the acute psychiatric condition. Urine and blood samples are taken at admittance to assess substance use and medications.

The patients are assess with two self-rating VAS-scales at discharge assessing the suicidal intentions they have had during the stay, aspects of clinical history and assessment for personality disorders.