ABSTRACT
Psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) specialize in the care of service users who have been detained under the Mental Health Act and who are currently at risk either to themselves or others and cannot be managed on an open ward. Hence the PICU will have increased levels of physical security such as locked doors and limited access. It will also have increased staf®ng levels to provide the necessary intensive care. The aim of a PICU is to work with the service users to help them in the crisis period so that they can return to a less restrictive environment as quickly as possible. The types of problems usually encountered within the PICU can be psychosis-driven fears leading to aggression, acute manic states, suicidal behaviour and self-harm.
