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Objective:  In order to examine prospectively the characteristics of violence among psychiatric patients, a 5‐year study was carried out in an acute psychiatric unit.

Method:  All assaultive behaviour occurred in the ward during the study period were assessed routinely using the Staff Observation Aggression scale (SOAS).

Results:  Of 1534 patients admitted to the unit during the study period, 116 were responsible for 329 aggressive episodes (prevalence of violence=7.5%, 2.8 incidents/patient). Most violent patients had an ICD‐9 diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or delusional syndromes (55.1%), a history of violence (80.7%) and previous psychiatric admissions (92%). Approximately half of the incidents had no specific cause, occurred during daytime and the first week of admission and, in most cases, was directed towards individuals (77.8%).

Conclusion:  Although confirming the low rate of violence among …