Sections
Treatment of Psychiatric Emergencies: Introduction | Nonpharmacological Psychiatric Emergencies | Psychiatric Emergencies Requiring Minimal or Adjunctive
Pharmacological Intervention | Psychiatric Emergencies That Usually Require Pharmacological
Intervention | Conclusion | References
Excerpt
Psychiatric emergencies occur in many different
situations in both clinical and nonclinical settings. While often managed
in specialized psychiatric emergency and crisis stabilization units,
psychiatric emergencies may also surface in other settings, such
as general medical/surgical units and outpatient clinics,
general emergency departments, and other nonclinical settings. The
resources and personnel available in a facility will significantly
affect the thoroughness of the evaluation, options for short-term stabilization,
and ultimate disposition of the patient. A fully staffed, freestanding
psychiatric emergency room will provide more options for patient
care than will an ambulatory clinic or a general emergency medicine
department.