Psychiatric emergency – This book covers the entire syllabus of “Psychiatric Nursing” prescribed by the Universities of Bangladesh- for Basic and diploma nursing students. We tried to accommodate the latest information and topics. This book is an examination-friendly setup according to the teachers’ lectures and examination questions.
At the end of the book previous university questions are given. We hope in touch with the book students’ knowledge will be upgraded and flourish. The unique way of presentation may make your reading of the book a pleasurable experience.
Psychiatric emergency
A psychiatric emergency is any disturbance in thoughts, feelings or actions for which immediate therapeutic intervention is necessary.
[Ref: S Nambi/24/2061]
Or,
Emergency psychiatry is the clinical application of psychiatry in emergency settings. Conditions requiring psychiatric interventions may include attempted suicide, substance abuse, depression, psychosis, violence or other rapid changes in behavior.
Or,
A psychiatric emergency is an acute disturbance of behaviour, thought or mood of a patient which if untreated may lead to harm, either to the individual or to others in the environment.
[Ref-Lecture of KDH sir]
Classification of psychiatric emergency:
1. Major emergencies:suicidal patients; agitated and aggressive patients
2. Minor emergencies: grief reaction; rape; disaster; panic attack
3. Medical emergencies:delirium; neuroleptic malignant syndrome; serotonin syndrome, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)/tyramine reactions; over dosages of common psychiatric medications; over dosages and withdrawal from addicting substances.
[Ref: Clinical Consult to Psychiatric Nursing/1/69]
Common psychiatric emergencies:
1. Excitement and violence.
2. Stupor.
3. Delirium.
4. Attempted suicide.
5. Panic attacks
6. Epilepsy related emergencies.
7. Alcohol and other addictive drugs related psychiatric emergencies.
8. Antipsychotic drugs induced psychiatric emergencies.
9. Lithium toxicity.
10. Refusal of food.
[Ref: S Nambi/2/206]
Approaches towards psychiatric emergency:
1. Brief history to be taken
2. Assess the possibility of any probable precipitating factor
3. Assess the distress and extreme behavior pattern
4. Assess the degree of seriousness.
[Ref: S Nambi/2/206]
Reasons to set-up psychiatric emergency:
1. The patient may be a source of danger to himself or to others because of his mental state.
2. The patient’s relatives may be extremely anxious regarding the patient’s condition.
3. The patient may create disturbances in the community to an intolerant and unmanageable degree
4. The patient may be in extreme and unbearable distress
[Ref: S Nambi/2/2061]
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