Both clinical experience and earlier research have indicated that an increased number of violent incidents in a psychiatric ward may be strongly associated with the use of new staff. In 1991 a substantial number of staff was recriuted to a ward for commited patients. Incidents of violence were registered over the following 12-month period. The results of this study were compared with early registered violent incidents in a previous setting. It was found that the frequency of violent incidents could be kept at a low and stable level despite the new situation. In conclusion, a certain number of factors may be expected to affect the results: the specific pharmacotherapy in the treatment of acute psychosis, the physical environment of the ward, and, in particular, staff training.
