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Guidelines for the management of acutely disturbed patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

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The treatment of acutely disturbed patients is a stressful area of psychiatric practice. Castle et al (1994) found that MRCPsych Part II trainees expressed a general dissatisfaction with training in the management of violence, and in our experience junior trainees are even less confident in the treatment of the disturbed patient. A survey by Cunnane (1994) found that no consensus exists among consultant psychiatrists on which drug treatment is most appropriate for the management of the aggressive, acutely disturbed psychotic patient. There was uncertainty as to optimal management, low expectation of quick results, unwillingness to express an opinion and the use of drug cocktails of dubious rationale.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 1996 

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