Smoking restrictions could be detrimental for Acute Psychiatric Services
simmi sehgal, Bedfordshire and Luton partnership NHS trust
12 May 2010
Imposing smoking restrictions in psychiatric inpatient units could prove not being in the best interests of the patients. Firstly it has been shown by research studies that due to this restriction, the contact of crisis services by psychotic patients has been reduced. Also the rate of violent incidents towards members of staff has increased. There could also be a possibility of the psychotic symptoms getting worse due to the use of nicotine replacement patches
Smoking restrictions could be detrimental for Acute Psychiatric Services
12 May 2010
Imposing smoking restrictions in psychiatric inpatient units could prove not being in the best interests of the patients. Firstly it has been shown by research studies that due to this restriction, the contact of crisis services by psychotic patients has been reduced. Also the rate of violent incidents towards members of staff has increased.
There could also be a possibility of the psychotic symptoms getting worse due to the use of nicotine replacement patches
Competing interests
None declared