Disturbed or Psychiatric Patients in the ED

Authors:  Susan Elizabeth Dorrian, Sarah Jones / Editor:  Lou Mitchell / Reviewer: Rebecca Ford / Code: A5, CC4, CC6 / Published: 09/04/2021

After completing this session you will be able to:

• Describe a safe environment for assessing disturbed or psychiatric patients in the emergency department
• Interpret a psychiatric history and mental state examination to give an initial diagnosis and risk assessment
• Plan the initial management of psychiatric patients in the emergency department
• Differentiate between organic and non-organic causes for altered behaviour and thinking
• Evaluate the features in a patient, which may compromise safety in the emergency department

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