[Crisis intervention in the framework of an acute psychiatric general ward]

Basing on the description of the concept for treating patients admitted and treated on the lines of crisis intervention for acute psychogenic crises, in an open, unsegregated (i. e. for both sexes) general psychiatric ward for acute cases in a university hospital, the data collected from 90 patients in the course of a year in respect of age, sex, cause of crisis, suicidal tendencies, diagnosis and duration of stay and follow-up treatment were analysed and compared with those collected by other crisis intervention units. It was found that there was major agreement regarding most criteria between our unit and other units; however, neurosis or personality disorder were diagnosed much more frequently than a psychogenic reaction. Over and above this, the inpatient treatment period was longer. We believe that the differences are due to an understanding of the crisis concerned which classifies the patients not so much as healthy persons thrown off balance by a major upset, rather as patients with chronic psychic difficulties that decompensate through various external factors. In the first place, treatment of the basic disease intends to protect the patients against re-exacerbation of unpleasant conflicts that are of a piercing nature. The article also points out the pros and cons of a ward to which crisis patients and psychiatric emergency cases are admitted without previous selection and can be treated adequately without additional stress being placed on the patient by a transfer or a change of physician and therapist.