The Effects of Different Interior Decorations in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit.

The purpose of the study is to compare effects of treatment of patients acutely admitted to a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with either a sparsely decorated interior or interior decorations like an ordinary, Norwegian home.

The PICU in Østmarka psychiatric department, St. Olavs Hospital contains 2 identical parts. Each part contains 2 beds. The PICU had a traditional sparsely decorated interior. In cooperation with architects and the county building authorities one of the parts were redecorated to an interior like an ordinary Norwegian home. All patients admitted the the PICU were semi-randomized to either traditional or "Norwegian home" interior decorations. Symptoms, behaviour, and treatment were evaluated at admittance, day 3 and discharge from the PICU

Intensive care units, Emergency services, psychiatric, Interior Design and Furnishings, Intensive Care

The walls received wainscots, colourful wallpaper and paintings; the ceilings were lowered and had multiple lighting spots, the windows tasteful curtains; we put wardrobes, chairs, flowers and personal items in the patient rooms; and Italian ceramic tile covered the entire bathroom

traditional interior design and furnishings. The rooms had sparse furniture, walls in grey colours lacking pictures, no window curtains, single lamps in the ceiling 4 m high, bathroom with grey, laminated paint all over, and patient rooms with a single bed and a chair of metal tubes

Inclusion Criteria: All patients acutely admitted to the PICU, St. Olavs Hospital, Østmarka dep. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with dementia or mental retardation to an extensive degree. Patients not speaking Norwegian or English

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