A psychiatric intensive care unit in a general hospital setting.

A twelve month period of the functioning of a psychiatric intensive care unit in a general hospital is reviewed. The unit has actually been functioning for about three and a half years. Although there were growing pains initially, the unit has become an integral part of the psychiatric inpatient service. It serves to provide intensive care to acutely ill patients and provides a safe, secure environment. It also reduces the number of disturbed patients on the two general units. Very disturbed patients are expertly managed by the staff and a surprisingly low percentage of patients have to be transferred to the local mental hospital under certification. The experience demonstrates that a psychiatric intensive care unit based on a general medical intensive care unit model can function well with benefit both to patients and staff.