정신 장애자의 병실 이탈에 관한 연구

A STUDY OF ESCAPE OF MENTAL PATIENTS FROM A PSYCHIATRIC WARD

One hundred and five attempted escapes made by 44 mental patients from Neuro-Psychiatric ward of E-Wha University Hospital during the period from 1973, Apr. 1 to 1978 Mar. 31 with available chart records were reviewed. The ward has had 20 beds. The personnels were 2 board specialists, 4 residents, 5 nurses, 3male aides, one clinical psychologist and 8 to 12 students of medical and nursing schools and social work department. There was no sex difference. About 80% of the escapees were those in second and third decades of age. Seventy five % of them had had educational background of high school and college. Schizophrenia was the most frequent diagnosis, comprising 59.1% of the total subjects. Seventy five % of then had been admitted involuntarily, and for 84.1% of them the admission had been the first. Most of them had been placed on psychotherapy and drug therapy. About 89% of them had been visited and met during their hospitalization by their families reqularly or irregularly. Average length of their hospitalization was 43.5 days. Choice of time for their escapes was most frequently during the first week comprising 31.7% of the total attempts. It was mostly in the evening or in day time. Weekends and days of family visits; were frequently chosen. They usually escaped on foot in hospital gowns. Only 17% of them succeeded in going out of the hospital compound, and about one quarter of the total attempted escapes weresuccessful. Most of the escapes were detected by ward personnels J about 81% was detected within 15 minutes but about 10% was detected over one hour after the attempt. Most of them returned to the hospital but 6.7% of them failed to return. About 59% of the families were cooperative in returning the patients to hospital but 9% of them were overtly reluctant to return the patients. Two escape attempters were physically injured during the escapes. On returning to the ward, 87.6% of them resumed stability by interview alone without resort： to physical restraint or additional emergency medication. Seventy five % of them were followed up at this 0.P.D.