The impact of modified mania assessment scale (MAS-M) implementation on the use of mechanical restraint in psychiatric units

Abstract

Background and aim: During recent years, there has been an increased focus on reducing use of mechanical restraint in psychiatric care. Studies show that implementing an assessment tool could potentially prevent or decrease the number of episodes of mechanical restraint. This study aims to examine the association between use of the Danish assessment tool for psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with mania (MAS-M) and mechanical restraint to highlight if number, type, and duration of restraint could be prevented or reduced by this procedure.

Materials and method: This historical cohort study included psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hospitalized with symptoms of mania at the departments of affective disorders during the years 2012–2015. Logistic regression was used in the statistical analyses.

Result: A total of 218 patients were included, 74 of whom were scored with MAS-M. Thirty-five episodes of mechanical restraint were recorded. A crude OR of 1.58 (95% CI: 0.75–3.30) of the association was estimated. The study showed a tendency toward patients scored with MAS-M being more frequently restrained with both belt and straps, however, in shorter duration, compared to the control group.

Conclusion: This study reported relevant clinical information concerning staff’s use of MAS-M, however, did not show a significant association between the use of MAS-M and mechanical restraint. Nevertheless, conflicting results about the impact of MAS-M on preventing and reducing these coercive measures have been highlighted, suggesting that more complex factors influence the use of mechanical restraint. No causal effect was examined thus further studies are needed.

Keywords:

• Mechanical restraint
• physical restraint
• coercion
• bipolar disorder
• psychiatry

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This writing and publishing process was supported by the Department of Research, Unit Q, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark.