Peer-Reviewed Publication
BJPsych Open2026;12(3):e131.May 11, 2026Journal Article
Discrepancies in classification and reporting of restrictive practices (restraints, seclusion and other coercive measures) in mental health services: multi-scenario analysis of an international survey.
Zelalem Belayneh1,2, Den-Ching A Lee1,3,4, Melissa Petrakis1,5, Deborah Aluh6,7, Justus Uchenna Onu8,9, Giles Newton-Howes10, Kim Masters11, Yoav Kohn12, Jacqueline Sin13, Marie-Hélène Goulet14,15, Tonje Lossius Husum16, Eleni Jelastopulu17, Maria Bakola17, Sau Fong Leung13,18, Kathleen De Cuyper19, Eimear Muir-Cochrane20, Yana Canteloupe21, Emer Diviney22, Lesley Barr23, Jim Ridley24, Didier Demassosso25, Terry P Haines1,3,4
1School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, https://ror.org/02bfwt286Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
2Department of Psychiatry, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.
3Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
4National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Peninsula Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
5Mental Health Service, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
6Lisbon Institute of Global Mental Health, Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
7Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, Nigeria.
8Department of Mental Health, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
9Department of Training and Research, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
10School of Philological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
11College of Health Professions, Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
12School of Medicine, Jerusalem Mental Health Centre, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel.
13School of Health and Medical Sciences, City St George's, University of London, London, UK.
14Faculty of Nursing, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
15Research Centre of the University Institute of Mental Health of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
16Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
17Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Quality of Life, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
18School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
19LUCAS - Centre for Care Research and Consultancy, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
20College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
21Eastern Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lived Experience Workforce, Melbourne, Australia.
22Self Help Addiction Resource Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
23Curtin School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
24Nursing and Governance, Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, Prestwich, UK.
25Green Ribbon Health and Community Development Association (GriCoDa), Yaounde, Cameroon.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Global initiatives to reduce restrictive practices in mental health settings have gained increasing attention. However, discrepancies in restrictive practice rates create uncertainties about whether these variations reflect true differences in clinical practices or arise from inconsistent classification and reporting methods.
AIMS: This study investigated how healthcare professionals…
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