[Pharmacological therapy in emergency psychiatry]

Pharmacological therapy is often inevitable in psychiatric emergency situations, but does not suffice alone. The onset or exacerbation of a psychiatric illness and acute life crisis may require immediate initiation of psychotropic medication. Evidence-based knowledge of the application of psychotropic medication in emergency call situations is very scarce, because randomization, blinding and placebo control of drug treatments in these situations are ethically very problematic. This is why psychiatric emergency call units have established treatment practices that are based on long-term clinical experience and well-tried routines.