Objective To investigate the effects of positive reinforcement on the behavior of troublemaking psychiatric patients.Method 100 cases of troublemaking psychiatric patients received in a hospital of Nantong City from September 2013 to December 2014 were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group

50 cases in each group.Patients in the control group were treated with conventional medication and care while patients in the observation group were given positive reinforcement based on the same treatment of the control group.The modification effects of patients in both groups were scored and analyzed with 90 Symptom Checklist（SCL-90）and Nursing Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation（NOSIE）.Results After their treatment

scores of somatization

interpersonal sensitivity

hostility and psychosis of SCL-90 were 0.40±0.69

1.80±1.98

0.20±0.63 and 1.30±0.82 in the observation group;scores of the four factors in the control group were respectively 2.67±2.95

1.22±1.30

1.22±1.48 and 2.56±2.65;the differences of the two groups were statistically significant（P<0.05）.Scores of overall positive factors and total illness scores of NOSIE in the observation group were 79.56±10.23 and 170.00±15.96

those of the control group were 41.58±25.65 and 103.25±32.70 and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）.The differences of scores in the five factors of social capacity

personal cleanliness

irritability

psychotic manifestation and tardiness were also statistically significant in both groups（P<0.05）.Conclusion Positive reinforcement can effectively help troublemaking psychiatric patients to change their bad behavior and improve their social adaptability so that they can return to society early.