Behaviour patterns within a general hospital psychiatric unit: an observational study.

Employing a reliable and objective ‘behavioural mapping’ procedure, information was obtained by three independent observers, on what, where and when staff and patients engaged in various categories of behaviour, within a general hospital psychiatric unit. Observations were undertaken during two separate 6-day periods, using a seven category behaviour rating scale. Staff and patient behaviour profiles were found to be stable across the two rating periods, despite an almost complete change in the patient population from the first to the second set of observations. Results also indicated that staff spend a majority of their time engaged in interaction with their peers, or engaged in solitary task activity, with little of their time being spent in interaction with patients. Patients spent approximately half of their time in solitary behaviour, and when they were observed to be interacting it was found to be primarily with their peers. A significant negative correlation was obtained between those areas of the unit most frequently occupied by staff and patients, suggesting a territorial separation of the two groups. Analysis, of interaction rates by time, further indicated that the vast majority of interaction was observed to occur during the period 9.00a.m. to 5.00p.m. Monday to Friday. Some implications of the observed findings are discussed and it is concluded that the data suggest that the therapeutic potential of the observed unit is under-utilized.