The dangerous psychiatric patient. Part III: Long-term treatment and management and responsibility considerations

Physicians from various medical specialties have the opportunity to encounter once in a while a dangerous psychiatric patient, an encounter which in many cases generates confusion and embarrassment. An attempt is made to identify the typical characteristics of such a patient, and to give some practical guidance to the physician 'in the field'. A number of examples of management of dangerous or even violent patients is presented. The objective of this contribution is to increase awareness of this issue, even among non-psychiatric medical personnel. Part III deals with long-term treatment and management of dangerous psychiatric patients and responsibility issues.