The objective of the present study is to contribute rules for the evaluation and treatment of an aggressive patient by means of seclusion. We searched the literature in the MEDLINE, Ovid, SciELO, HINARI, LILACS, IMBIOMED and Latindex databases, using the combination of the following words: "seclusion" and/or "patient seclusion" and/or "restraint, physical" and/or "mentally ill persons". Twelve out of 8,418 articles were selected for their application in Colombia according to the following limits of the search: clinical trial, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial, review of the literature, adults, both genders, published between 2002 and 2007 in the English and Spanish languages. There is wide knowledge about the treatment of aggressive patient. The seclusion indications do not differ from those of restriction, with these important aspects: risk of violence and damage to the facility. The contraindications and ethical, medical, and legal implications of the seclusion procedures are clear and should be accepted in the clinical practice. The appropriate uses of the seclusion in mental health units should make part of a convenient therapeutic plan taking into consideration the national context.
Aggression; crisis intervention; emergencies; mentally ill persons; restraint; physical