One of the strongest justifications for the use of restraints in
hospitals is the protection of the patient, others or both. Often
medication and verbal therapies are insufficient to control
potentially dangerous patients.2 This and the possible beneficial
therapeutic effects of restraints are some strong justifications for
their use. In addition, restraint of violent patients allows the staff
in psychiatric hospitals to feel safe enough to perform basic
psychotherapeutic tasks that often serve to prevent or avoid further
violence