The use of restraint and seclusion in state psychiatric centers has almost doubled over the past decade (1984-1993) and has been associated with over 100 patients deaths over that period. The Commission found wide variations in the frequency with which these interventions were used by psychiatric facilities in New York State.

A second report containing the results of the largest survey of former psychiatric patients reported in the literature found that patients who were restrained or secluded during their inpatient stays overwhelmingly report these interventions were used illegally and that they were often poorly treated, abused or injured when restrained or secluded.

quoted from http://www.cqcapd.state.ny.us/publications/pubtext.htm