CRISIS INTERVENTION

1. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
CRISIS INTERVENTION
Mrs.Sandhyarani Behera
Sr.Tutor
Dept.of Psychiatric Nursing
MHICOESCBMCH,CUTTACK

2. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Introduction
 Any stressful situation can precipitate a crisis.
 Assistance with
problem-solving during
the crisis period preserves
self-esteem and promotes
growth with resolution.

3. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Crisis, Defined
 Crisis is defined as a sudden event in one’s
life that disturbs homeostasis, during which
usual coping mechanisms cannot resolve the
problem.

4. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Crisis, Defined (cont.)
 psychopathology. Characteristics of a Crisis
– Crisis occurs in all individuals
at one time or another and is
not necessarily equated wi
– Crises are precipitated by
specific identifiable events.
– Crises are personal by nature.
– Crises are acute, not chronic, and are resolved in one
way or another within a brief period.
– A crisis situation contains the potential for psychological
growth or deterioration.

5. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Phases in the Development of a Crisis
1. The individual is exposed to a precipitating stressor crisis occurs.
2. When previous problem-solving techniques do not relieve the
stressor, anxiety increases further.
3. All possible resources, both internal
and external, are called on to resolve
the problem and relieve the discomfort.
4. If resolution has not occurred in previous
phases, the tension mounts beyond a further
threshold or its burden increases over time to
a breaking point. Major disorganization of the
individual with drastic results often occurs.

6. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Phases in the Development of a Crisis (cont.)
 Whether individuals experience a crisis in
response to a stressful situation depends on
three factors:
– The individual’s perception
of the event
– The availability of
situational supports
– The availability of
adequate coping mechanisms

7. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Types of Crises
 Dispositional crises –
an acute response to an external
situational stressor
 Crises of anticipated
life transitions – normal
life-cycle transitions that
may be anticipated but over
which the individual may feel
a lack of control

8. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Types of Crises (cont.)
 Crises resulting from
traumatic stress –
a crisis that is precipitated
by an unexpected, external
stressor over which the
individual has little or no
control and from which he
or she feel emotionally
overwhelmed and defeated

9. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Types of Crises (cont.)
 Maturational/developmental
crises – crises that occur in
response to situations that
trigger emotions related to
unresolved conflicts in one’s
life

10. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Types of Crises (cont.)
 Crises reflecting psychopathology –
emotional crises in which
preexisting psychopathology
has been instrumental in
precipitating the crisis or in
which psychopathology
significantly impairs or
complicates adaptive
resolution

11. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Types of Crises (cont.)
 Psychiatric emergencies –
crisis situations in which general functioning has
been severely impaired and the individual
rendered incompetent or unable to assume
personal responsibility

12. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Crisis Intervention
 The minimum therapeutic goal of crisis intervention is
psychological resolution of the individual’s immediate
crisis and restoration to at least the level of functioning
that existed before the crisis period.
 A maximum goal is
improvement in functioning
above the precrisis level.

13. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Phases of Crisis Intervention:
The Role of the Nurse
 Nurses may be called on to function as crisis helpers in
virtually any setting committed to practice of nursing.
 Phase 1. Assessment. Information is gathered
regarding the precipitating stressor and the resulting
crisis that prompted the
individual to seek
professional help.

14. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Phases of Crisis Intervention:
The Role of the Nurse (cont.)
 Phase 2. Planning of therapeutic intervention. From
the assessment data, the nurse selects appropriate
nursing diagnoses that reflect the immediacy of the crisis
situation. Desired outcome criteria are established.
Appropriate nursing actions are
selected, taking into consideration
the type of crisis as well
as the individual’s strengths
and available resources for support.

15. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Phases of Crisis Intervention:
The Role of the Nurse (cont.)
 Phase 3. Intervention. The actions identified in the
planning phase are implemented. A reality-oriented
approach is used. A rapid working relationship is
established by showing
unconditional acceptance,
by active listening, and by
attending to immediate needs.
A problem-solving model
becomes the basis for change.

16. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition
Phases of Crisis Intervention:
The Role of the Nurse (cont.)
 Phase 4. Evaluation of crisis resolution and
anticipatory planning.
A reassessment is conducted to determine whether
the stated objectives were achieved.
A plan of action is
developed for the
individual to deal with
the stressor should it
recur.

17. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 5th Edition