Journal article
Absconding behaviour: an exploratory investigation in an acute inpatient unit
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Vol.33(4), pp.533-537
1999
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to identify patient and environmental characteristics associated with absconding behaviour, and to gain an understanding of the behaviour from the patients’ perspective.
Method: A prospective analysis of 77 consecutive incidents of absent-without-leave (AWOL) behaviour (n = 51 patients) was undertaken to develop a profile of patient and environmental characteristics associated with absconding behaviour. In addition, semi-structured interviews were carried out with a subsample of 14 patients within 24 h of returning to hospital from being AWOL.
Results: Those who absconded were male (58%), under 40 years of age (74%), admitted involuntarily (78%), and had a diagnosis of schizophrenia (42%). One-third of all AWOL incidents resulted from repeated absconding by the same individuals. The first 7 days post admission was a high-risk period for absconding behaviour. Issues raised in the interviews with patients identified a number of situational and environmental factors which are likely to increase the risk of absconding.
Conclusions: Situational and environmental factors are more likely than patient characteristics to be predictive of absconding behaviour.
Details
- Title
- Absconding behaviour: an exploratory investigation in an acute inpatient unit
- Authors/Creators
- T. Meehan (Author/Creator)P.A. Morrison (Author/Creator)S. McDougall (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Vol.33(4), pp.533-537
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Identifiers
- 991005541270707891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
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- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.21 Psychiatry
- 1.21.624 Forensic Psychiatry
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychiatry
- ESI research areas
- Psychiatry/Psychology