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Rapid tranquillisation: are we getting it right?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Laura Mannion*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University College Hospital Galway, Ireland
Darina Sloan
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital Fairview, Dublin
Louise Connolly
Affiliation:
Cluain Mhuire Family Centre, Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

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Trainees in psychiatry frequently employ rapid tranquillisation (RT) measures. In this study we surveyed trainees as to RT regimes used. We found that a variety of drugs were chosen. On 45 (46%) occasions one drug was used, on 53 (54%) a combination. Drugs were administered in intramuscular form in 88 (90%) incidents. Zuclopenthixol acetate was prescribed on a total of 45 (46%) occasions. In 38 (39%) incidents the trainee used a high-dose regime. The literature regarding RT indicates inconsistency in practice. We address the reasons for this and make suggestions as to possible improvement in practice.

Type
Original Papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

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