Peter Stevens Unrestricted Interventions Ltd, London, England
Why you should read this article:
• To understand the types of iatrogenic harm that may result from restrictive interventions and practice in mental healthcare
• To learn about the ethical and legal issues associated with restrictive interventions and practice
• To consider approaches that could be used in mental health settings to reduce the risk of iatrogenic harm
The use of restrictive interventions and practice by nurses in mental healthcare has the potential to cause varying levels of iatrogenic harm to patients. Restrictive interventions include physical and mechanical restraint, seclusion and enforced administration of medicines, while restrictive practice includes coercion, deprivation of liberty and reduced autonomy. The severity of physical, psychological and psychosocial harms experienced by patients subjected to these restrictions can be wide ranging. In addition, the use of these interventions and practices gives rise to ethical and moral contradictions, even when they are used legally and are clinically acceptable. This article explores the factors involved in restrictive interventions and practice such as culture, leadership, staffing levels, training, organisational policy and quality of care provision. The author also examines the implications for patients of being subjected to such interventions.
Mental Health Practice.
doi: 10.7748/mhp.2026.e1772
Peer review
This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence
Conflict of interest
The author is managing director and principal specialist consultant at Unrestricted Interventions Ltd and undertakes consultancy work as a restraint reduction consultant for Safety Pod International, whose products are discussed in this article. The consultancy role commenced after initial submission. No funding was received for the preparation of this article
Stevens P (2026) Iatrogenic harm from restrictive interventions in mental healthcare: a human rights perspective. Mental Health Practice. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2026.e1772
Published online: 24 February 2026
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