2. Psychiatric Emergency
Any disturbances in thoughts, feelings, or actions for
which immediate therapeutic intervention is necessary.
Emergency & urgency & non-urgency
Prevention > emergency management
Timely assessment in crisis
1. Is it safe for the patient to be in ER?
2. Is the problem organic or functional or combination?
3. Is the patient psychotic?
4. Is the patient suicide or homicide?
3. Psychiatric Emergency
Self protection
-know as much as possible
-leave physical procedure to those who are trained
-be alert to risks of impending violence
-attend to the safety of physical surroundings
-have others present during the assessment
-attend to developing an alliance with the patient
4. Psychiatric Emergency
Prevent harm
-prevent self injury and suicide
-prevent violence toward others
-informed the pt. the violence is not acceptable
-approach the patient in non-threatening manner
-reassure, calm, or assist the patient’s reality testing
-offer medications
-informed the patient that restraint or seclusion will be
used if necessary
-have team ready to restraint the patient
-when patients are restrained, closely observe them
5. Common Psychiatric Emergency
Suicide
Violent behavior
Acute psychosis
Acute mania
Hyperventilation syndrome
Acute anxiety
Substance intoxication and withdrawal
Psychiatric drug side effects
7. Suicide
สมควรตาย? เรื่องของเขา/เธอ? แหม...ทาไปได้
ขอความช่วยเหลือ? ทุกข์อย่างแรง? ชีวิตไม่มีทางออก?
ทุกรายมีความลังเล ในส่วนลึกยังอยากมีชีวิตอยู่
อย่ากลัวที่จะถามเรื่อง suicide ไม่เพิ่มความเสี่ยง
Suicide ป้ องกันได้ ช่วยเหลือได้
ช่วยเหลือทางจิตใจหลัง attempt ลดการทาซ้า
psychiatric illness ex. psychosis, depression
Adaptation to stressful life events or medical illness
personality disorder ex. Borderline PD
8. Variable high risk Low risk
Demographic data
-Age
- sex
- marital status
- employment
< 25 yrs. , > 45 yrs.
Male
Divorced/widowed
Unemployed
25- 45 yrs.
female
Married
Employed
Suicidal activity (PI)
-Suicidal ideation (desire)
- suicide attempt
(plan & method)
Frequent, intense, prolonged
Multiple attempts, planned,
rescue unlikely, unambiguous
wish to die, self-blame,
method lethal and available
Infrequent, low intensity, transient
1st attempt, impulsive method
, low lethality
Health (PH)
-Physical
- mental
Chronic illness
Severe depression, psychosis,
substance abuse, severe
personality disorder
Good health
Feels healthy
Supporting system (FH)
- interpersonal relationship
- family background
Conflictual , no support Stable, available
Resources (personal Hx.)
- Personal
- Social
Poor achievement, poor insight
Socially isolated, poor coping style
Good achievement, good &
mature coping
9. S ex = male
A ge = < 25 , > 45
D epression
P revious attempt
E thanol use
R ational thought loss
S uicidal idea
O rganized plan
N o social support
S ickness
SAD PERSON
10. Suicide (Evaluation & management)
Management of medical / surgical consequences of
suicide attempt
Evaluate the suicidal risk (low-moderate-high) , believe
in your gut feeling
Prevent further suicidal act – safety & monitored environment,
admission, medication, reduce suicidal risk
Consult psychiatrist or experienced clinicians
Document important data
11. Admission criteria
Need medical / surgical inpatient treatment
Prevent harm (self/others)
For evaluation & diagnosis
For adjusting the medications
Lack of social/family support, burnt out family
Poor self care, poor intake
15. Organic psychosis
Hx
PE
Lab
MSE
- age > 45 yrs.
- abrupt onset
- prior medical illness ex. fever, headache
- substance dependence
- head injury
- diurnal variation
- medical illness
- Vital signs
- physical abnormality especially CNS
- fluctuation of consciousness
- disorientation
- impaired memory especially recent memory
- visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile
hallucination, illusion
- to confirm organic cause ex. electrolyte,
DTX, CBC, LFT, CT
16. Treatment acute psychosis
stabilize patient
- Antipsychotic drug : Haloperidol 2.5-5 mg IM every
30 min.-1 hr. until the patient calms down
- physical restraint if needed medical restraint
- if psychosis from delirium tremens : Diazepam 5-10
mg IV slow push every 30 min., Vit B. supplement
Organic psychosis Functional psychosis
treat organic cause
psychoeducation
consult psychiatrist
18. Panic Attack
palpitation, pounding heart
sweating
trembling or shaking
sensation of shortness of breath
feeling of choking
chest pain or discomfort
nausea or abdominal distress
feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, faint
derealization or depersonalization
fear of losing control or going crazy
fear of dying
paresthesias
chills or hot flushes
25. Akathisia
รู้สึกกระวนกระวาย นั่งเฉยๆไม่ได้ ต้องขยับไปมา อยากลุกเดิน
เดินแล้วดีขึ้น
Treatment
• decrease dose of antipsychotic drug
• propranolol 20-40 mg/day
• or diazepam 5-10 mg
26. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Recent treatment with neuroleptics within past 1-4 weeks
The classic triad involves the autonomic nervous system (fever), the
extrapyramidal system (rigidity), and cognitive changes.
other signs & symptoms :
Change in mental status ex. delirium, catatonia, confusion, stupor
Tachycardia
Hypertension or hypotension
Diaphoresis or sialorrhea
Tremor
Incontinence
urinary myoglobin
Metabolic acidosis
The two characteristic laboratory findings are a high CPK and leukocytosis
Exclusion of other drug-induced, systemic, or neuropsychiatric illness
fatal rate 10-20 %
27. Treatment
Stop all neuroleptics.
Correct volume depletion and hypotension with IV fluids.
reduce the temperature
bromocriptine ( dopamine agonist)
reduce rigidity : lorazepam 8 mg/d
: Dantrolene (Dantrium)
physical restraints may be useful.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Consultations:
- a neurologist - a psychiatrist - a nephrologist
28. Li intoxication
Mild 1.5-2.0.mEq/L
Lethargy
Drowsiness
Coarse tremor
Muscle weakness
Nausea, vomitting
Diarrhea
Moderate 2.0-2.5 mEq/L
Confusion
Dysarthria
Nystagmus
Ataxia
Myoclonic , twitches,
choreoarthetic
ECG-flat or inverted T wave
Severe >2.5 mEq/L
Grossly impaired conscious
Increase deep tendon reflex
Seizure
Syncope
Renal insufficiency
NMS
Coma
Death
29. Treatment of lithium poisoning
Protect oral airway if consciousness is impaired
Gastric lavage
Correct dehydration
Proper fluid and electrolyte balance
force diuresis
Hemodialysis ; lithium level >3-4 mEq/L,
severe neurologic symptoms, renal insufficiency, or
unstable hemodynamically
31. Treatment:
medical consultation
Initial steps include discontinuing the
offending agents and supporting the patients
vital signs, fluid, metabolic.
Periactin (Cyproheptadine) - a potent
antihistamine and serotonin antagonist
Dantrolene (a potent muscle relaxant)
32. Emergency psychiatry
situations
Evaluate & Stabilize patient
- Haloperidol 2.5-5mg im
- Diazepam 5- 10 mg iv
- physical restrain if needed
- reassure
Rule out organic causes
Consult psychiatrist
Acute psychosis/Violent
Panic attack
Suicidal behavior
Substance abuse/withdrawal
Psychotropic drug S/E
hyperventilation