On importance of new group therapy for decrease of agitation during the critical period of nursing shift changes on an acute psychiatric inpatient floor

Abstract

Background: Agitation is a significant challenge to mental healthcare. This project aims to examine the effects of implementing an interactive mental flexibility group to decrease incidences of agitation in the inpatient psychiatric population during nursing shift change.
Methods: This observational study, conducted on the acute inpatient psychiatric unit of an academic hospital in Central NY, USA. This 23-bed unit admits psychiatric patients from the E.D. and local hospitals. The art-based interactive group was implemented during the critical period of nursing shift change, which is known for having an increased agitation due to caregiver changes. We tracked group attendance, incidences of agitation, and as-needed medication administration for agitation. We administered a Likert-type scale to rate emotions before and after each session.
Results: We observed a dramatic decrease in as needed medications for agitation 1 month prior to group (n = 576) compared to 3 months during group (n = 120). The new group constitutes a significant decrease in agitation incidents. Patients indicated an increase in happiness (mean = 0.46, SD = 0.978), decrease in sadness (mean = 0.44, SD = 1.078), and decrease in anger (mean = 1.15, SD = 1.984).
Conclusions: Our project indicates that the patients and staff well receive interactive group sessions in an acute psychiatric unit. The group sessions helped to decrease agitation and medication administration.
Future directions: We recommend the utilization of interactive mental flexibility groups on acute psychiatric units to promote emotional regulation, especially during nursing shift change.