What can be an emergency situation for patients with personality disorders?
Emergency situations could be when the patient is at risk of committing violence or homicide, such as in Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). A patient can also be at risk of harming themselves or even ideating or attempting suicide, such as someone with Borderline Personality Disorder, or with co-morbidity of severe depression with suicidal ideations.
Which professionals can help a personality disorder patient in an emergency situation?
Psychiatrists can prescribe medications to calm down the symptoms causing an emergency situation in a personality disorder patient. Other hospital staff including doctors and nurses could monitor the patient and ensure that they are not a harm to themselves or others until they calm down.
How to prevent an emergency situation for patients with personality disorders?
Engaging the person in regular psychiatric consultations and therapy sessions can help manage the symptoms and prevent emergency situations. Engaging in family therapy can equip the family members with ways to manage the patient’s symptoms and have preventative measures for emergency. Admitting the patient at a rehabilitation program can ensure 24*7 monitoring and access of professionals that can ensure the safety of the individual and others.
What can be done in an emergency situation for personality disorder?
If there risk of harm to others, safety of others can be ensured. This can include taking away any harmful objects from the patient, and calling the police if required for assistance and protection. If the patient is at risk of self-harm, you can take away anything that can make them harm themselves, take them to a safe place and/or surround them to ensure their safety. In both cases, after immediate safety is ensured, rush them to a psychiatric hospital or ER.
