Seclusion: Definitional interpretations

Seclusion of psychiatric patients means different things to different people and different organizations. Without a clear definitional framework misunderstanding can occur and comparative analyses are made difficult. In an attempt to establish universal themes 166 international articles and books on seclusion were reviewed and their definitional interpretations evaluated. The results highlight a wide disparity between studies and there is little consensus as to the definition of seclusion. From the international literature and the policy documents from British psychiatric establishments, including three Special Hospitals, seven constructs are identified which constitute a universal definition. Seclusion is then contrasted with the often misused concepts of time-out, sensory deprivation and punishment