The incident occurred at lunchtime on Friday. The patient then allegedly broke a piece of plastic cutlery and used it to stab the attendant in the throat.
The attendant was taken to the Central Hospital in Växjö for medical treatment, and is said to have managed with minor injuries, according to Region Kronoberg, which reported the incident to the police as attempted murder.
– This could have gone really badly. Thankfully, other personnel present acted immediately and managed to avert further violence, says Tina Fogelklou, head of forensic psychiatry.