Nursing management of patients with psychiatric emergencies

Psychiatric emergencies are situations in which individuals' thoughts and behaviours are acutely altered causing potential or actual risks to the life of the person or others in the environment. Prompt identification and appropriate interventions will reduce the mortality and disability caused due to psychiatric emergencies. This article reviews the major psychiatric emergencies such as suicide, violence, delirium tremens, stupor and drug-related emergencies and highlights the nursing care of patients with these psychiatric emergencies.