A feature of many psychiatric illnesses is a lack of insight into the need for treatment. You may need to secure a court order for involuntary treatment if a patient refuses medications and their symptoms put them or others at risk or hinder their ability to meet basic needs.

While empathetic listening, validating emotions, and scheduled medications effectively calm many agitated patients, they don't always succeed. This fact sheet offers a guide on medication strategies for acute agitation in emergency department (ED) and psychiatric inpatient settings, specifically targeting agitation from primary psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder manic episodes.

By integrating psychotherapy into treatment plans for patients with psychotic disorders, you can enhance their symptom management and improve their overall well-being. Here we review two evidence-based therapeutic approaches that are effective in various settings, including inpatient units.

Effective discharge planning is crucial for ensuring the continuity of care for psychiatric patients, minimizing their risk of readmission, and facilitating a successful transition back into the community.

I. Pre-Interview Planning ● Get a list of your patients; identify or organize them by new workups /discharges / continuing pts ● Identify staff of the day--charge nurse; nurse and other staff (eg, Mental Health Aides, nursing attendants) assigned to your patients

Behavior Management Plans are tools for addressing and modifying a patient's challenging behaviors. These plans typically outline specific inappropriate behaviors, set clear consequences for these behaviors, and detail rewards for appropriate behavior. Here's a sample template that you can adapt to suit each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.

In order to efficiently conduct a psychiatric interview, there are some basic interviewing skills you will develop to ensure you are getting valid information in a time-efficient manner. This fact sheet reviews some of the major techniques seasoned clinicians use.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition that requires a thoughtful, personalized approach to medication management, especially in the inpatient setting. This fact sheet provides an overview of medication strategies for PTSD.

In most psychiatric units, a medical consultant (either an MD or an NP) is responsible for conducting an admission H and P for all patients, which includes a brief neurological exam and a cranial nerve screen. However, some units have a policy of requiring the attending psychiatrist to do some portions of the physical exam, and this may include a brief neurologic exam. In this factsheet we give you a brief refresher course on how to do the standard neurologic exam.

Who Is Likely to Experience Withdrawal Symptoms? ● Risk group: Anyone consistently taking opioids for ≥2 weeks. ● Predictors of severe withdrawal: Daily use, high dosage, and use of short-acting opioids.