Evaluation of an intensive treatment program for disrupted patient-staff relationships in psychiatry.

Purpose: Some patients in psychiatric treatment are considered extremely difficult to treat because of the disruptive nature of their relationships with treatment staff. In this paper, we describe and evaluate a specialist inpatient treatment program for these patients. Design and Methods: Data were collected from medical records and daily reports of patients (n = 108). Pretest-posttest measurements were used to evaluate the treatment. Findings: The main treatment method consists of the provision of safety, structure, and cooperation. Treatment results show statistically significant changes from admittance to discharge. Practice Implications: The collaborative and consistent manner in which nurses approach the patients is crucial for quality of care. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.