Introduction
pp. 1-11
in: William E. Fann, Robert H. Williams, Robert R. Williams, Robert C. Williams, Comstock (eds), Phenomenology and treatment of psychiatric emergencies, Berlin, Springer, 1984Abstract
Psychiatric emergencies are complex events always involving several people. At the minimum, a person identified as patient experiences sufficient personal distress or inflicts sufficient distress on others that a service provider is sought to reduce the suffering. The essential elements, then, are a patient's psychic pain or behavioral disturbance and relevant intervention, urgently sought and promptly provided, by a helping person. Many people may be involved in the same distress or disturbance, and a team of professionals may intervene utilizing a program organized in advance for that purpose, or a single distressed person may seek crisis care from an individual professional.