psychiatric emergency
An acute mental health crisis requiring immediate medical intervention to prevent harm.
Full Definition
A psychiatric emergency is an acute disturbance in thought, mood, or behavior that requires immediate clinical intervention to prevent serious harm to the patient or others. Common psychiatric emergencies include active suicidal or homicidal ideation with plan and intent, severe psychosis with agitation, acute catatonia, severe medication reactions, and delirium with behavioral disturbance. In research settings, the occurrence of psychiatric emergencies is carefully monitored as a safety outcome, and protocols must be in place for immediate unblinding, emergency psychiatric consultation, and appropriate medical management. These events often constitute serious adverse events requiring expedited reporting to regulatory authorities and institutional review boards.
Usage
Usage note: Use consistently rather than alternating with 'psychiatric crisis' within the same document.
In Context
- "Two patients experienced psychiatric emergencies requiring immediate study discontinuation and hospitalization." — safety report
- "The protocol specified procedures for managing psychiatric emergencies, including emergency unblinding." — safety procedures