Emergency Psychiatry Glossary

The clinical judgement that a patient is at immediate or near-term risk of harm to themselves or others, typically trigg...

Legal process by which individuals with severe mental illness can be detained for psychiatric evaluation and treatment a...

A court-issued involuntary commitment order directing law enforcement to transport an individual to a psychiatric facili...

The legal and ethical principle requiring clinicians to choose the treatment setting or intervention that limits patient...

A structured clinical evaluation of the probability that a patient's suicidal or homicidal ideation will result in death...

California law governing involuntary psychiatric holds and conservatorships for individuals with mental illness.

Medical evaluation confirming that psychiatric symptoms are not caused by underlying medical conditions requiring immedi...

Therapeutic approach using the physical and social environment of the psychiatric unit as a treatment modality.

A specialized emergency response unit that provides on-site psychiatric crisis intervention in community settings rather...

Systematic evaluation of a patient's mental state including appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.

A rare but life-threatening adverse reaction to antipsychotic medications characterised by hyperthermia, muscle rigidity...

A billing and clinical designation for short-term monitoring of psychiatric patients not requiring full admission.

A psychiatric presentation caused by an identifiable physical or medical condition rather than a primary psychiatric dis...

Blood tests measuring highest and lowest concentrations of psychiatric medications to ensure therapeutic dosing and prev...

A specialized emergency department unit designed specifically for the evaluation and short-term treatment of psychiatric...

Psychiatric Emergency Response Team providing specialized crisis intervention in emergency settings.

Psychiatric medication administered as needed based on specific clinical indications rather than scheduled dosing.

Clinical variables that reduce a patient's risk of suicide or self-harm, such as social support, future orientation, rel...

Legal document specifying treatment preferences and appointing decision-makers for future psychiatric emergencies when p...

A legal document completed by a patient while competent that specifies their psychiatric treatment preferences and desig...

The systematic process of identifying available inpatient psychiatric beds for patients requiring admission from emergen...

Extended stay of psychiatric patients in emergency departments while awaiting transfer to appropriate mental health faci...

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

Specialized multidisciplinary team providing immediate psychiatric consultation and crisis intervention in emergency set...