Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 2016, 134: 287–294

The purpose of this study was to determine whether staff responses to abuse disclosures had improved since the introduction of a trauma policy and training programme. The files of 250 clients attending four New Zealand mental health centres were audited. Results: There was a significant improvement, compared to an audit prior to the introduction of the policy and training, in the proportion of abuse cases included in formulations, and, to a lesser extent, in treatment plans. There was no significant improvement in the proportion referred for relevant treatment, which remained at less than 25% across abuse categories. The proportion of neglect disclosures responded to was significantly lower than for abuse cases. (From the authors' abstract). Record #5422