Predicaments of the closed ward staff.

Coordinated team work is a sine qua non for efficient functioning of a therapeutic ward. Extreme violence on the part of a patient may disrupt the working relationship within the team to the extent of causing its members to question their choice of profession. Physical assaults and allegations of professional or personal misconduct brought forward by a patient and his/her family may undermine the competence of the attending staff. Recognition by the health, legal and psychiatric authorities of the difficulties to which the personnel on an acute closed ward is continually exposed may alleviate staff burnout. This in turn will contribute to better management of the patients.