TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Experiencing violence in a psychiatric setting: generalized hypervigilance and the influence of caring in the fear experienced
JO  - Work
A1  - Forté, Lydia
A1  - Lanctôt, Nathalie
A1  - Geoffrion, Steve
A1  - Marchand, André
A1  - Guay, Stephane
SP  - 55
EP  - 67
VL  - 57
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Exposure to violence in the mental health sector both affects employees and has implications for the quality of care provided. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: This phenomenological study aims to describe and understand the ways in which acts of aggression from a patient might affect workers in a psychiatric institute, their relationships with the patients and the services offered. <br><br>METHODS: Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of the 15 participants from various professions within a psychiatric hospital. <br><br>RESULTS: Our analysis reveals four themes: hypervigilance, caring, specific fear toward the aggressor and generalized fear of all patients. A state of hypervigilance is found among all participants. An emphasis on caring is present among the majority and unfolds as a continuum, ranging from being highly caring to showing little or no caring. A feeling of fear is expressed and is influenced by the participant's place on the caring continuum. Caring workers developed a specific fear of their aggressor, whereas those showing little or no caring developed a generalized fear of all patients. Following a violent event, caring participants maintained this outlook, whereas those demonstrating little to no caring were more inclined to disinvest from all patients. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Hypervigilance and fear caused by experiences of violence impact the quality of care provided. Considerable interest should thus be paid to caring, which can influence fear and its effects.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1051-9815
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172540
ID  - ref1
ER  -