Acute Psychiatric Emergencies

Acute Psychiatric Emergencies, 2nd Edition, is a clinical textbook developed by the Advanced Life Support Group to establish a structured framework for evaluating urgent psychiatric conditions. Edited by Mark Buchanan and Damien Longson, this 208-page work provides systematic guidance for multidisciplinary healthcare teams responding to mental health crises in clinical settings.

The content synthesizes urgent care priorities into distinct assessment and intervention phases. Core coverage spans primary unified assessment and immediate psychiatric management, followed by secondary physical and psychosocial evaluation. Dedicated modules address mental state examination alongside severe clinical presentations including self-harm and acute behavioural disturbances.

Beyond direct clinical diagnosis, the text emphasizes practical decision-making through dedicated sections covering legal aspects of emergency psychiatry, non-technical skills, and patient experience. This structured textbook supports instruction in academic courses, residency training, and professional orientation programs focused on emergency medicine and acute crisis care.