EmPATH Units: An Innovative Approach to Mental Health Crises

Topics: assessments | Emergency Department | psychiatric emergencies | treatment

CHPR: Dr. Nordstrom, please tell us about yourself. Dr. Nordstrom: First and foremost, I am an emergency psychiatrist. I have been working in this field for years and have a passion for it. I am also drawn to healthcare policy and administration, especially when it comes to models of care. As a past president of the American Association for Emergency

Borderline Personality Disorder in the ED

Topics: Borderline Personality Disorder | Countertransference | Emergency Department | emotion dysregulation | Good Psychiatric Management | interpersonal stressors | Personality Disorders | Suicidality | Working With Families

CHPR: What are some common issues that you encounter with patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in the psychiatric emergency department (ED)? Dr. Hong: First, we should remember that individuals with BPD are prevalent in every psychiatric setting, but especially the ED. About 10%–15% of all psychiatric ED patients have BPD, and these pa

Principles of Verbal De-Escalation

Topics: aggression | Agitation | Emergency Department | Free Articles | verbal de-escalation

When our patients become agitated and threatening, we often think first about chemical or physical restraints—especially when staff’s physical safety seems at imminent risk. But it’s important to remember that coercive interventions can be humiliating and may lead to more agitation and violence. In fact, research indicates that restraints are corr

Quetiapine vs First-Generation Antipsychotics for Aggression

Topics: Agitation | Emergency Department | First Generation Antipsychotics (FGAs) | Quetiapine | Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGAs)

REVIEW OF: Yip L et al,  J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2020;30(9):534–541 Acute agitation and aggression can lead to injury in the pediatric emergency department setting. Unfortunately, efficacy data for pharmacologic treatments are sparse. Most clinicians choose first-generation antipsychotics (FGA) over second-generation antipsychotics (SG