Ask a Psychiatrist About Common Psychiatric Emergencies

Part of the job of a psychiatrist is to treat patients during psychiatric emergencies. A psychiatric emergency is a situation in which a patient cannot meet their own basic needs due to psychiatric impairment or becomes a danger to self and others.

7 Common Psychiatric Emergencies

Because there are many different kinds of mental health conditions, it follows that there are different kinds of psychiatric emergencies that can occur. Some may have certain characteristics in common, but all require the help of a psychiatrist to resolve.

1. Potential first breaks

Mental health conditions typically develop gradually, but sometimes symptoms can emerge very suddenly. These are frightening situations for both patients and family members. With calm, competence, and compassion, an emergency psychiatrist can help patients to start their mental health journeys on the right foot.

2. Anxiety

Anxiety is a state of severe and irrational worry. People with anxiety may experience a psychiatric emergency of severe panic in response to a perceived threat. The task of an emergency psychiatrist then becomes to help the patients return to baseline so that treatment for anxiety can continue.

3. Withdrawal or intoxication with psychiatric aspects

According to Psychiatric Times, over 50% of people with substance use disorder also have other underlying psychiatric conditions. This combination can turn a state of intoxication or withdrawal from substances into a psychiatric emergency, though it would not be so if the intoxication or withdrawal occurred in the absence of such conditions.

4. Mania

Euphoria, grandiosity, and hyperactivity are all symptoms of manic episodes that can occur due to bipolar disorder. Not all such episodes are psychiatric emergencies, but mania can rise to that level when patients are at risk of getting into dangerous situations or exhibiting harmful behavior.

5. Aggression and agitation

Aggression involves behaving in a way that is threatening or confrontational toward others. Agitation involves excessive motor behavior or verbal speech. A psychiatrist can use calming techniques to de-escalate the situation before the patient causes harm to others or to themself. Many different types of mental health conditions can cause symptoms of aggression or agitation.

6. Acute psychosis

Psychosis is a break from reality that causes patients to perceive things that do not exist and believe things that are not true. Psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, do not always rise to the level of a psychiatric emergency. However, psychosis that is sudden and seriously pronounced could prevent a patient from being able to meet their own needs. It could put patients in a mental state in which they are likely to do themselves personal harm or endanger others.

7. Suicidality

A person who thinks about suicide, plans to do it, or attempts it unsuccessfully is exhibiting suicidality. This is one of the most serious psychiatric emergencies because it presents an immediate threat to the patient's life.