Psychiatric Ward Design: Analyzing Architectural Design Elements and their Impact on Patients (and Staff)
Mentor Information
Atsuko Sakai (Judy Genshaft Honors College)
Description
Psychiatric wards and hospitals have been notorious for being spaces that are meant to heal individuals who possess mental health conditions. But on the flip side, they are known to lack variation and colorful design. With the incorporation of certain design elements, the behaviors in patients can be affected. This study analyzes various spatial designs of psychiatric wards and identifies critical design elements in order to help increase the mental health and behavior of patients. Design elements include additions and rearrangements of furniture, room design elements, TVs, lounge material, and more. Humans are sensory creatures who react to environmental changes. Psychiatric ward patients are even more responsive to changes in the environment due to their altered mental state of mind. By examining various design studies done in the United States and the United Kingdom that explore the effects of additions of design elements on psychiatric ward patients, conclusions were drawn on which design elements were most effective in improving patient behavior. First, it was found that the addition of design elements helped to reduce aggression in psychiatric ward patients. Second, these design elements helped to improve behaviors in patients. Third, these design elements helped to reduce psychopathy and stereotypy in patients. It was concluded that the psychiatric ward was seen to transition from a homogenous bland environment to a healing space with the addition of various design elements. Therefore, design elements indeed have a strong impact on patient outcomes in terms of behavior and aggression and their impact on staff.
Psychiatric Ward Design: Analyzing Architectural Design Elements and their Impact on Patients (and Staff)
Psychiatric wards and hospitals have been notorious for being spaces that are meant to heal individuals who possess mental health conditions. But on the flip side, they are known to lack variation and colorful design. With the incorporation of certain design elements, the behaviors in patients can be affected. This study analyzes various spatial designs of psychiatric wards and identifies critical design elements in order to help increase the mental health and behavior of patients. Design elements include additions and rearrangements of furniture, room design elements, TVs, lounge material, and more. Humans are sensory creatures who react to environmental changes. Psychiatric ward patients are even more responsive to changes in the environment due to their altered mental state of mind. By examining various design studies done in the United States and the United Kingdom that explore the effects of additions of design elements on psychiatric ward patients, conclusions were drawn on which design elements were most effective in improving patient behavior. First, it was found that the addition of design elements helped to reduce aggression in psychiatric ward patients. Second, these design elements helped to improve behaviors in patients. Third, these design elements helped to reduce psychopathy and stereotypy in patients. It was concluded that the psychiatric ward was seen to transition from a homogenous bland environment to a healing space with the addition of various design elements. Therefore, design elements indeed have a strong impact on patient outcomes in terms of behavior and aggression and their impact on staff.
