Psychotropic drugs in the management of psychiatric emergencies

Antipsychotic drugs are the agents of choice for the management of acute functional psychoses. In most instances, hourly intramuscular injections of chlorpromazine or haloperidol will bring tranquilization within six hours or less. These drugs also are useful in amphetamine-induced psychoses. In psychosis resulting from hallucinogen, however, an antipsychotic drug should be given only as a last resort. In many organic psychoses, including psychosis due to ingestion of an atropine-like drug, use of anti-psychotic drug should be avoided. Before any drug is given to a psychotic patient, an effort should be made to identify an organic brain syndrome, characterized by clouded sensorium, disorientation, and poor recent memory.