p> Hafner, Lammersma, Ferris, and Cameron (1989) compared the clinical effectiveness of psychiatric intensive care units (PICU) with seclusion rooms with PICUs without such rooms. They found that the use of seclusion rooms demonstrated no clear advantages with respect to duration of admission, levels of medication or relapse. The researchers also found, however, that the use of seclusion rooms did reduce the level of dangerousness in PICUs, which, in turn, enhanced staff morale. This last finding holds relevance for psychiatric care in corrections facilities, where safety and staff morale are important concerns.
Rotov (1994) found that small clusters, as opposed to large rooms, both facilitated treatment and minimized violent behavior. This study found also that areas of irregular shape were unsuitable for volatile patients. Thus, corrections facilities may be able to reduce the need for the use of seclusion rooms through atten
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