Psychiatric Hold
An involuntary short-term detention of a person in a psychiatric facility, authorized when an individual is determined to be an imminent danger to themselves or others.
Full Definition
A psychiatric hold is the colloquial term for various state-specific involuntary emergency detention statutes, most famously California's 5150 Welfare and Institutions Code provision, but known by different designations in other states (e.g., Baker Act in Florida, M-1 in Virginia). In clinical and legal documentation, editors should replace informal references ('psych hold,' '5150'd') with the precise statutory term appropriate to the jurisdiction unless the colloquial term appears in a direct quotation. Duration, criteria, and procedural requirements vary by state law.
Usage
Usage note: Jurisdiction-specific synonyms (5150, Baker Act) should be used only in state-specific documents. In national or multi-state publications, use 'psychiatric hold' or 'involuntary emergency detention.'
In Context
- "The emergency department social worker initiated a 72-hour psychiatric hold after the patient disclosed a plan to harm himself." — Emergency department clinical note
- "When editing documents intended for national distribution, replace jurisdiction-specific terms like '5150' with the generic 'psychiatric hold' or 'involuntary emergency detention.'" — Editorial style guidance