Reducing the Use of Physical Restraints

Over the last 35 years, utilization of physical
restraints to manage
aggressive, out-of-control children & youth in mental
health
facilities has been increasingly scrutinized. In July
of 2001 the
United States federal government imposed strict new
regulations
following the investigation of a number of
restraint-related deaths.
The present study examined restraint usage at an
all-male
residential treatment facility for equal periods both
before and after
this law change. Results showed that restraint use
was cut in half
following the introduction of the new regulations. It
is believed that
many of the confounds that result from the inappropriate
application of restraints were also reduced or
eliminated, thus
inviting a fresh analysis of restraint variables. A
significant
percentage of restrained subjects were found to have
diagnosed
learning disabilities in addition to primary
diagnoses such as
Oppositional Defiant Disorder & Conduct Disorder.
Subjects who
were restrained with a high frequency required
significantly more
time in treatment than infrequently restrained or
non-restrained
subjects.

Autorentext
Dr. McGlinn is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified School
Psychologist with over
twenty-two years experience working with school-aged children and
adolescents. He
received his Ph.D. from Temple University and was the Director of
a residential
treatment program at The Devereux Foundation for nine years.

Klappentext
Over the last 35 years, utilization of physical restraints to manage aggressive, out-of-control children & youth in mental health facilities has been increasingly scrutinized. In July of 2001 the United States federal government imposed strict new regulations following the investigation of a number of restraint-related deaths. The present study examined restraint usage at an all-male residential treatment facility for equal periods both before and after this law change. Results showed that restraint use was cut in half following the introduction of the new regulations. It is believed that many of the confounds that result from the inappropriate application of restraints were also reduced or eliminated, thus inviting a fresh analysis of restraint variables. A significant percentage of restrained subjects were found to have diagnosed learning disabilities in addition to primary diagnoses such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder & Conduct Disorder. Subjects who were restrained with a high frequency required significantly more time in treatment than infrequently restrained or non-restrained subjects.