The effectiveness of the Motion Room in the prevention of violent behavior and physical restraint in acute psychiatric inpatient units: a cross-sectional survey incorporating a pre-post design.

Abstract

Background: Violent behaviours continue to be a significant problem worldwide. The introduction of Motion Rooms, particularly within acute psychiatric settings, can provide a safe and therapeutic intervention that, by promoting emotional self-regulation, reduces emotional distress and aggressive behaviors.

Aim: To assess the effects of a therapeutic intervention through the use of the Motion Room on the risk of violent behavior and the use of physical restraint.

Materials and methods: A longitudinal design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Motion Room in an acute psychiatric unit. The Italian version of the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC-ita) was used for the assessment of the risk of aggression before (T0) and 2 hours after intervention (T1).

Results: 102 patients were enrolled, 96 (94.12%) completed the intervention. The number of subjects at moderate/high risk decreased significantly at T1 (p=0.01). In the two hours following the intervention, one patient was subjected to physical restraint.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that sensory rooms can be a strong support for nursing staff in preventing aggressive behavior in an acute psychiatric ward. Further research with broader sampling and randomized studies is needed.