Heisenberg in the ER: observation appears to reduce involuntary intramuscular injections in a psychiatric emergency service.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Chemical restraint is controversial. Appropriate use is ill-defined and chemical restraint may be overutilized. During the period of an unrelated observational study for patients with acute psychomotor agitation in a psychiatric emergency service, we noticed a significant reduction in the number of involuntary intramuscular injections administered.

RESULTS:

We observed a 27% decrease (P=.015) in the number of involuntary intramuscular injections in the 3-month observational study period, compared to 3-month periods before and after the study.

CONCLUSION:

We suggest that the observation process itself may have been beneficial and may have reduced the incidence of unnecessary intramuscular injections.

• Authors: Cristian Damsa, Douglas Ikelheimer, Eric Adam, Susanne Maris, Antonio Andreoli, Coralie Lazignac, Michael H Allen
• Journal: General hospital psychiatry (Gen Hosp Psychiatry) 2006 Sep-Oct Vol. 28 Issue 5 Pg. 431-3 ISSN: 0163-8343 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16950380 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Antipsychotic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Emergency Services, Psychiatric (statistics & numerical data)
• Health Services Misuse (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular (statistics & numerical data)
• Observation
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Psychomotor Agitation (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Psychotic Disorders (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Switzerland
• Treatment Outcome
• Utilization Review (statistics & numerical data)