In a period of growing interest in expert's guidelines on the management of psychiatric emergencies, there are few empirically validated data in the emergency settings. Based on this observation, we developed an International Research Network in Emergency Psychiatry, by connecting several European Centers (Switzerland, France, Belgium, Romania) and United States. The aims of our collaboration are to evaluate and ameliorate the quality of care, to develop European clinical guidelines, to provide a structured educational program for trainees and students and to conduct international studies focused on Emergency Psychiatry. Clinical research and the use of some standardized tools appear to be successful in improving the quality of care as an ‘effective medication’ administered to the emergency staff [Damsa et al., 2006]. Moreover, introducing new psychotherapeutic models in emergency psychiatry, could avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, by increasing the compliance of the patients to ambulatory follow-up care, and might have a positive economic impact on the health systems. In conclusion, we hope to develop new links with other emergency psychiatric teams, through the Emergency Psychiatry Section from the AEP.

Damsa C, Ikelheimer D, Adam E, Maris S, Andreoli A, Lazignac C, Allen MH. Heisenberg in the ER: observation appears to reduce involuntary intramuscular injections in a psychiatric emergency service. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2006; 28: 431-433.