Forensic psychiatric aspects of inpatient violence

Assaultive behavior in psychiatric inpatients has become a significant problem in terms of staff injury and the use of seclusion and restraint. In psychiatric facilities, a small percentage of patients are responsible for the majority of assaults, and these patients warrant further study. Efforts to prevent or reduce inpatient assaults should consider factors motivating aggressive behavior to formulate specific interventions. The authors review die pharmacologic agents and psychotherapeutic strategies available for targeting aggressive behavior and discuss when it may be appropriate to prosecute patients for assault.