This is an audit evaluating the impact of inpatient COVID-19 restrictions on the frequency of recorded violent incidents on a male acute general psychiatric ward. The aim of this study is to compare the frequency of violent and disruptive behaviours between pre-COVID-19, COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods on the ward.

Inpatient adverse incidents on the ward are logged into an electronic system as ‘IR1’ (Incident Reporting) through Ulysses by healthcare professionals. Data on logged incidents between April 2019 and March 2022 were obtained by contacting the Ulysses technical team. The reported incidents were classed into ‘disruptive behaviour’, ‘violence to patient’ and ‘violence to staff’.

We chose to focus on the IR1s submitted between three twelve monthly time periods: Pre-COVID-19 (April 2019–March 2020), COVID-19 (April 2020–March 2021) and Post-COVID-19 (April 2021–March 2022). We opted for these cut off periods to be in line with the local trust guidelines with respect to COVID-19 restrictions.

Out of 155 incidents which occurred during pre-COVID-19 period, 38 incidents were disruptive behaviours, 24 were violence to patients and 93 were violence to staff. Of the 249 incidents during COVID-19 period, 66 incidents were disruptive behaviours, 46 were violence to patients and 137 were violence to staff. Of the 216 incidents during post COVID-19 period, 67 cases were disruptive behaviours, 53 were violence to patients and 96 were violence to staff.

There was 74% increase in disruptive behaviour between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 phase but no increase between COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 phase.

There was a 92% increase in violence to patients between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 phase and a 15% increase between COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 phase.

There was a 47% increase in violence to staff between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 phase, but a 30% reduction between COVID-19 and post COVID-19 phase.

Violence to staff makes up the highest proportion of violent incidents recorded, followed by disruptive behaviours and violence to patients. This trend was seen in all three time periods.

Our study showed that violent incidents in a male acute psychiatric ward increased during COVID-19 period when compared to pre-COVID-19 period. This could be explained by increased ward restrictions and difficulties in communication related to PPE use. Further studies would need to be conducted looking at trend in other services within the Trust. Our findings will be of importance in monitoring risks in similar circumstances in the future.