agitated behaviour scale (Corrigan 1989)

automated external defibrillators

advanced life support

aggression risk profile (Kay et al. 1987)

behavioural activity rating scale (Swift et al. 1998)

Barnes akathisia rating scale (Barnes 1989)

basic life support

brief psychiatric ratings scale (Overall & Gorham 1962)

Brøset violence checklist (Almvik 1996)

clinical global impressions scale (Guy & Bonato 1970)

I clinical global impression of improvement – subscale of CGI (Guy & Bonato 1970)

clinical global impressions severity of illness scale – subscale of CGI (Guy & Bonato 1970)

constant observation

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

environment assessment questionnaire (Lanza 1996)

extrapyramidal symptoms

global clinical impressions scale

Guideline Development Group

historical/clinical/risk – 20-item scale, version 2 (Webster et al. 1997)

human immunodeficiency virus

information for the public version

immediate life support

intramuscular injection

intravenous injection

modified brief psychiatric ratings scale (Tariot et al. 1993)

mini mental state examination (Folstein et al. 1975)

modified overt aggression scale (Kay et al. 1988)

nurses observation scale for in-patient evaluation (Honigfeld et al. 1966)

overt agitation scale (Yudofsky 1997)

positive and negative syndrome scale (Kay et al. 1987)

positive and negative syndrome scale exited component -subscale of PANSS (Kay et al. 1987)

psychiatric intensive care unit

patient characteristic form b (Lanza 1996)

psychopathy checklist: screening version (Hart et al. 1995)

pro-re-nata medication

quantified neurological scale (Convit et al. 1994)

routine assessment of patient progress (Ehmann et al. 1995)

randomised controlled trial

regional secure unit

special observation

staff observation aggression scale (Palmestierna & Wistedt 1987)

extended staff observation aggression scale (Hallenstinsen et al. 1998)

staff observation aggression scale revised (Nijman et al. 1999)

special observation record sheets

summary of product characteristics

target symptom rating scale (Barber et al. 2002)

any visual analogue scale, for example, likert scale

violence risk appraisal guide (Harris et al. 1993; Webster et al. 1994).

British National Formulary

Department of Health

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (formerly Medical Devices Agency)

National Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Supportive Care

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

National Institute for Mental Health in England

Nursing and Midwifery Council (formerly the United Kingdom Central Council for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (UKCC), formerly the Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee (SNMAC).

National Patient Safety Agency

National Service Framework

Royal College of Nursing

Royal College of Psychiatrists

the NHS Security Management Service

School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield

The United Kingdom Central Council for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors. The role of this body has now been taken over by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).