The Impact of a Token Economy on Injuries and Negative Events on an Acute Psychiatric Unit

• DOI: 10.1176/ps.50.7.941
• Publication Date: 2014-12-17T21:11:02Z
• Authors: James P. LePage
• Keywords: Token economy; Acute care

Although the use of token economies has been shown to facilitate patient change and improve program functioning in numerous settings, have received little attention acute psychiatric settings. A economy was introduced on an care unit a rural hospital, rates negative events were compared before after implementation.Negative defined as employee injuries that not accidents. Unauthorized absences emergency medications also counted events. Rates calculated over two four-month periods, 24-bed housed hospital's neo-adult for patients between ages 18 20. The served admitting age 20.When analysis controlled census number neo-adults, covariance indicated fell significantly introduced, from 129 four months implementation 73 implementation, 43 percent reduction. Both staff reduced. small increase noted, but it statistically significant.Findings support settings milieu by reducing