Changes in heart rate and skin conductance in the 30 min preceding aggressive behavior
Corresponding Author
Peter de Looff
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Wier, Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
De Borg, National Expertcentre Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
Correspondence
Peter de Looff, Wier, Specialized and Forensic Care, Citroenvlinder 4, 3734 AD Den Dolder, The Netherlands.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMatthijs L. Noordzij
Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMirjam Moerbeek
Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorHenk Nijman
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Wier, Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
De Borg, National Expertcentre Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorRobert Didden
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
De Borg, National Expertcentre Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
Trajectum, Specialized and Forensic Care, Zwolle, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorPetri Embregts
Department of Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Peter de Looff
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Wier, Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
De Borg, National Expertcentre Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
Correspondence
Peter de Looff, Wier, Specialized and Forensic Care, Citroenvlinder 4, 3734 AD Den Dolder, The Netherlands.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorMatthijs L. Noordzij
Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorMirjam Moerbeek
Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorHenk Nijman
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Wier, Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
De Borg, National Expertcentre Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorRobert Didden
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
De Borg, National Expertcentre Specialized and Forensic Care, Den Dolder, The Netherlands
Trajectum, Specialized and Forensic Care, Zwolle, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorPetri Embregts
Department of Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information
De Borg and DForZo (Directie Forensische Zorg) grant
The copyright line for this article was changed on 14 June 2019 after original online publication.
Abstract
Aggressive behavior of inpatients threatens the safety and well-being of both mental health staff members and fellow patients. It was investigated whether heart rate and electrodermal activity can be used to signal imminent aggression. A naturalistic study was conducted in which 100 inpatients wore sensor wristbands during 5 days to monitor their heart rate and electrodermal activity while staff members recorded patients’ aggressive incidents on the ward. Of the 100 patients, 36 displayed at least one aggressive incident. Longitudinal multilevel models indicated that heart rate, skin conductance level, and the number of nonspecific skin conductance responses per minute rose significantly in the 20 min preceding aggressive incidents. Although psychopathy was modestly correlated with displaying aggression, it was not a significant predictor of heart rate and skin conductance preceding aggression. The current findings may provide opportunities for the development of individual prediction models to aid acute risk assessment and to predict aggressive incidents in an earlier stage. The current results on the physiological indicators of aggression are promising for reducing aggression and improving both staff as well as patient safety in psychiatric mental health institutions.
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