Pojemność psychopatologiczna oddziału psychiatrycznego — próba definicji i analizy

In this article I focus on a variety of circumstances that influence the best possible functioning of a psychiatric ward. It would seem that every psychiatric ward is limited in its tolerance for the level of psychopathology therein, which is something often overlooked. To make my theoretical analysis more practical, I introduce the term of the ‘psychopathological capacity of a psychiatric ward’ (Polish: PPOP). I attempt to provide a definition of PPOP and deliver analysis of circumstances that shape it. These phenomena are not always measurable in a clinical sense, often described colloquially or not described at all, however their existence is, according to many years of my experience, one of the foundations of a safe functioning of the psychiatric unit and satisfying working therein. Sometimes these phenomena are repeatable, sometimes appear on a one- off basis. The overall sum of these phenomena is difficult to estimate. Even though the term PPOP does not relate to does not relate at all to the relationship of the ward with the overall health care system, it is strongly connected to aspects that are the most valuable for the patient — comfort and quality of the in-ward psychiatric treatment. When it comes to the medical personnel, the influence of PPOP is no less significant. For those reasons it is important to note and monitor the behavioural phenomena and some seemingly common events occurring at a psychiatric department in both contexts, the one of the patient and one of the personnel.