The use of emergency psychiatric medication: a survey from 21 countries

The article presents international survey results from experts recruited through the European Violence in Psychiatry Research Group on the use of emergency psychiatric medication for the treatment of violence and aggression. Of 21 countries surveyed, 15 use parenteral haloperidol and lorazepam, 13 use second-generation antipsychotics, and 9 use low-potency antipsychotics. Twelve still use zuclopenthixol. Three countries use intravenous medication. Eleven countries have no guidelines. Only the United Kingdom, Germany, and Bulgaria have national guidelines.