ABSTRACT
Introduction A psychiatric em ergency is defined as a d isturbance in thoughts , feelings o r ac
tions for w hich im m edia te therapeu tic in terven tion is needed. For a variety o f rea sons, from substance abuse to vio lent behavior, the n u m b er o f psychiatric pa tien ts in the Em ergency D ep artm en t is on the rise. Patients w ith psychiatric disorders account for as m any as 15% o f all em ergency d ep artm en t visits thus creating a need for an increase in psychiatric awareness in m edical personnel.
