Emergency Psychiatry

Readers of this volume will find a survey of the major service models used in emergency psychiatry (the consultation model, the specialized psychiatric emergency service model, and newer community models); principles for assessment of psychosocial and cognitive functioning, including a discussion of assessment instruments and their appropriate use; guidelines for assessing risk of suicide or violence; standards for behavioral management of agitation and aggression, including discussion of legal and regulatory issues in emergency practice; and guidance on the application of psychotherapeutic techniques to interviewing patients in crises so as to communicate concern, elicit cooperation and essential information about the patient's state, and foster an alliance that facilitates appropriate treatment.