Course Library

Psychiatric Patient Management

Define the most common psychiatric patient’s EMS is likely to encounter

Review Dr. J. Stuart Ablon’s approach to dealing with psychiatric patients:

• Review “Changeable”
• Review his process of 'Collaborative Problem Solving'

Psychiatric Medications

1. Neuroleptics
2. Antidepressants
3. Antimanic Drugs

Psychiatric

1. 1. Depression
   2. Mood changes
   3. Difficulty concentrating
   4. Anxiety
   5. Suicidal or homicidal ideation
   6. Irritability
   7. Sleep disturbances
   8. Fatigue on waking
2. Introduction
   1. Prevalence
   2. Medical-legal considerations
   3. Safety
3. Pathophysiology
   1. Biological/Organic
   2. Environment
      1. Psychosocial
      2. Socio-cultural
   3. Injury and illness
   4. Substance-related
      1. Abuse
      2. Dependence
      3. Intoxication
      4. Medication non-compliance
4. Understanding Behavior
   1. Normal
   2. Abnormal
   3. Overt
   4. Violent
5. Acute psychosis
   1. Pathophysiology
      1. Related to mental illness
      2. Organic psychosis
   2. Prehospital management
      1. Non-pharmacologic
      2. Pharmacologic
6. Agitated delirium
   1. Pathophysiology
   2. Risk factors
   3. Signs and symptoms
   4. Management
7. Specific Behavioral/Psychiatric Disorders
   1. Cognitive Disorders
   2. Thought Disorders
      1. Schizophrenia
      2. Psychosis
   3. Mood Disorders
      1. Bipolar
      2. Depression
   4. Neurotic disorders
   5. Substance-Related Disorders/Addictive behavior
   6. Somatoform Disorders
   7. Factitious Disorders
   8. Fastidious Disorders
   9. Impulse Control Disorders
   10. Personality Disorders
   11. Suicide
   12. Patterns of Violence, Abuse, and Neglect
8. Assessment findings for behavioral/psychiatric patients
   1. Mental Status Exam (MSE)
      1. consciousness
      2. orientation
      3. activity
      4. speech
      5. thought
      6. memory
      7. affect and mood
      8. perception)
   2. Physiological changes
   3. Medical/social history
   4. Consider if the patient is danger to self and/or others
   5. Consider medical causes of acute crises
9. Providing Empathetic and Respectful Management
   1. Communication techniques
   2. Crisis intervention skills
10. Use of force/restraints Medications
    1. Pharmacodynamics of prescribed medications for behavioral/psychiatric disorders
       1. Amphetamines
       2. Antidepressants
       3. Antipsychotic
       4. Phenothiazines
    2. Problems associated with non-compliance
    3. Emergency use
11. Consider age-related variations in pediatric and geriatric patients
12. Communication to medical facility and documentation
13. Transport decisions

Content Creator: Carli Wymore
CAPCE Course Number: 20-EMTP-F3-1207
Total CE Hours: 1.5
Level: Advanced
EMT-CE uses the NEMSES guidelines as the foundation for every course outline.