Should Psychiatric Patients Be Restrained? Which Type of Restraint Is Better?

Protective restraint is one of the important measures in psychiatric clinical care. Its purpose is to restrict patients' disruptive behavior, ensure the safety of patients and others, and ensure the smooth progress of treatment and care. However, the use of protective restraint may cause physical and psychological harm to patients.

Not all psychiatric patients require restraint. Protective restraint is used to improve patients' treatment compliance and prevent patients from harming others, destroying property, or self-harming, as well as to reduce other accidental factors that may harm patients.

Restraints should only be used in the following situations, and prior to use, there must be a medical order and consent signed by the family or the patient themselves. In individual emergency situations, restraints may be applied first, with consent obtained afterward.

There are three main reasons for using protective restraints in psychiatry:

① Non-cooperative behavior. This primarily manifests as refusal to be hospitalized (escaping), refusal to undergo treatment, refusal to eat, or refusal to take medication;

② Aggressive behavior. This primarily manifests as acts of violence, property destruction, or self-harm driven by the patient's condition;

③ Preventive use. This primarily involves protecting patients with a tendency to fall out of bed, impaired consciousness, or epilepsy-related mental disorders to prevent injury or ensure cooperation with necessary examinations or treatments, such as fasting and fluid restriction preparations for MECT or ultrasound procedures.

To provide more humane protective restraints for psychiatric patients, Mengtai Nursing has developed magnetic-controlled restraint belts featuring a magnetic lock mechanism that prevents unauthorized personnel from opening them, with only a specialized magnetic key capable of unlocking them. Additionally, the areas in contact with the patient's skin are designed with lambswool padding to prevent risks such as skin abrasions or pressure ulcers. Due to its humanized design, high safety standards, and comfort and durability, the Montay magnetic-controlled restraint belt has been adopted by over 1,000 hospitals and mental health centers nationwide, aiding in the rehabilitation of psychiatric patients while reducing the burden on nursing staff.