It is often difficult to distinguish a true medical emergency from a psychiatric emergency.You are confronted with a patient experiencing personality changes ranging from irritability to irrational behavior,altered mental status,amnesia or confusion,irregular respirations,elevated blood pressure,and decreasing pulse.It appears to be a psychiatric emergency.What else could also likely cause this behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described could indicate a head injury, which can cause personality changes, altered mental status, confusion, and irregular respirations. It is important to rule out any potential medical causes before assuming it is solely a psychiatric emergency.

It Is Often Difficult to Distinguish a True Medical Emergency