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The Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Robert Goldney ,
Julia Bowes ,
Neil Spence ,
Andrew Czechowicz  and
Rod Hurley
Robert Goldney*
Affiliation:
Glenside Hospital Adelaide, 5063, South Australia
Julia Bowes
Affiliation:
Glenside Hospital Adelaide, 5063, South Australia
Neil Spence
Affiliation:
Glenside Hospital Adelaide, 5063, South Australia
Andrew Czechowicz
Affiliation:
Glenside Hospital Adelaide, 5063, South Australia
Rod Hurley
Affiliation:
Glenside Hospital Adelaide, 5063, South Australia
*
∗Correspondence
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Summary

The first three and a half years' operation of a psychiatric intensive care unit, based on the general hospital model, is described. This eight-bedded ward focusses on the treatment of the most acutely psychiatrically ill patients, and not on the forensic or custodial aspects of such units previously described. It has gained general acceptance within the setting of a state psychiatric hospital, and has received 1132 admissions since its inception. Demographic, clinical, and treatment data are presented and the advantages and disadvantages of the unit are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 146 , Issue 1 , January 1985 , pp. 50 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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