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Emergency Psychiatry Glossary

100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

psychiatric clearance

Intermediate Technical IVT

Clinical determination that a patient does not require immediate psychiatric intervention or hospitalization.

Showing 73–96 of 100

psychiatric emergency screening tool

Intermediate Technical IVT

Standardized assessment instrument used to evaluate mental health crisis severity and determine appropriate level of car...

Technical Term Full entry →

A specialised clinical unit or system of care within or affiliated with an emergency department that provides acute eval...

Technical Term Full entry →

Psychiatric Formulary

Intermediate Technical IVT

A managed list of approved psychotropic medications available within a hospital or health system for use in emergency ps...

Technical Term Full entry →

psychiatric hold bed

Intermediate Technical IVT

A specialized hospital bed designated for patients under involuntary psychiatric detention.

Technical Term Full entry →

psychiatric stabilization

Intermediate Technical IVT

The acute treatment process aimed at reducing immediate psychiatric symptoms to a manageable level for safe discharge or...

Technical Term Full entry →

psychiatric triage

Intermediate Technical IVT

Process of rapidly assessing and prioritizing patients presenting with mental health crises in emergency settings.

Technical Term Full entry →

A paroxysmal event resembling an epileptic seizure that is caused by psychological rather than epileptiform neurological...

Technical Term Full entry →

Psychomotor Agitation

Intermediate Technical IVT

An observable state of excessive, purposeless motor activity and restlessness that often accompanies psychiatric emergen...

Technical Term Full entry →

rapid response psychiatry

Intermediate Technical IVT

Emergency psychiatric consultation service providing immediate assessment and intervention for acute behavioral crises t...

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rapid tranquilization

Professional Technical IVT

Emergency pharmacological intervention using antipsychotic or sedating medications to quickly control severe agitation o...

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risk stratification

Advanced Technical IVT

The systematic categorization of psychiatric emergency patients based on their level of risk for self-harm, violence, or...

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SAFE-R

Professional Technical IVT

Mnemonic for Suicide Assessment Five-step Evaluation and Triage - Risk factors, warning signs, protective factors, curre...

Technical Term Full entry →

Safety Plan

Basic Semi-formal IVT

A collaboratively developed, written intervention tool listing warning signs, coping strategies, social supports, and cr...

Document Type Full entry →

Seclusion

Intermediate Formal IVT

The involuntary confinement of a patient alone in a room or area from which they are physically prevented from leaving,...

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Section 12

Professional Technical IVT

Massachusetts law provision allowing authorized clinicians to petition for involuntary psychiatric commitment based on m...

Legal Term Full entry →

Serotonin Syndrome

Advanced Technical IVT

A potentially life-threatening drug-induced condition caused by excess serotonergic activity, presenting with the triad...

Technical Term Full entry →

SI/HI assessment

Intermediate Technical IVT

Evaluation of suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation as part of psychiatric risk assessment.

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SPMI

Intermediate Technical IVT

Acronym for Serious and Persistent Mental Illness; designates patients with long-standing, severe psychiatric conditions...

Abbreviation Full entry →

STAMP

Intermediate Technical IVT

Acronym for Staring, Tone and volume of voice, Anxiety, Mumbling, and Pacing - a rapid assessment tool for identifying a...

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START Assessment

Advanced Technical IVT

Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability; a structured clinical tool used in psychiatric settings to evaluate both...

Document Type Full entry →

A risk assessment approach that combines standardised tools with individual clinical expertise to evaluate psychiatric r...

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Structured Suicide Risk Assessment

Professional Technical IVT

A formalised, tool-guided clinical process used in emergency psychiatry to systematically evaluate risk factors, warning...

Technical Term Full entry →

TAC

Intermediate Technical IVT

Treatment Authorization Code, a unique identifier for approved emergency psychiatric treatment episodes.

Abbreviation Full entry →

TDO

Intermediate Formal IVT

A temporary legal order authorizing involuntary psychiatric evaluation for individuals who appear to meet commitment cri...

Legal Term Full entry →
Showing 73–96 of 100

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