RT Book, Section A1 Sagun, Dean A2 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 1159811394 T1 Physical Restraints T2 Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures, 3e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259861925 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1159811394 RD 2024/03/28 AB Psychiatric emergency services have become a major point of entry into the mental health system and a principal treatment site for many patients with chronic and severe mental illness.1 Emergency Department (ED) patients with altered mental status, emotional disturbances, head trauma, psychiatric illness, psychological disturbances, or other medical conditions may be aggressive, physically injurious, or violent.2,3 The aggression may be exhibited toward themselves or toward the health care personnel who are caring for them.4Emergency Physicians must be prepared to cope effectively with agitated or violent patients to reduce the risk of serious injury to the patient and health care personnel. Physical restraints might be necessary to ensure the safety of the patient and the health care personnel given the volatile nature of some presenting conditions. A prospective study found that 0.07% of ED patients were restrained during the 1-year study period.5 Up to 8.5% of psychiatric patients seen in the ED may require the use of physical restraints.6 Most patients were restrained for agitation, disruptive behavior, or violent behavior.5,6