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A Program to Help Staff Cope With Psychological Sequelae of Assaults by Patients
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1991
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Emergency Department AdministrationMental Health InterventionMental HealthEmergency CarePsychologySocial SciencesPsychological InterventionsClinical PsychologyPtsd SymptomsStaff CopeHealth Services ResearchPsychiatryMedicineIndividual TherapyAsap Team MembersPsychological SequelaeNursingMental Hospital StaffPsychological ViolencePatient SafetyPsychotherapyAggressionPsychopathologyEmergency MedicinePost-traumatic Stress Disorder
Mental hospital staff who are assaulted by patients are at risk of developing symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. The Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP), a voluntary program, offers support to staff victims of patient assaults in a state mental hospital. ASAP team members debrief assault victims, assessing the victim's sense of control, social supports, and ability to make sense of the incident. A short-term support group is offered. During the program's first 90 days, the team responded to 67 assaults. Ten days after the assaults, many of the victims had not regained a sense of control, did not have a support network, and were unable to make sense of the incident. These factors put them at risk for PTSD symptoms. The costs of such a program are discussed.