title: The dangerous patient.
abstract: The dangerous patient presents a complex management problem which can be divided into four steps: (1) predicting the degree of dangerousness; (2) assessing the urgency; (3) diagnosing the cause, and (4) intervention and treatment. The interventions--verbal, physical and pharmacologic--must be safe, effective and flexible. Success depends on the degree to which the physician acts calmly, deliberately and reasonably.
mesh_terms: D003617:Dangerous Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012306:Risk; D014754:Violence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy