Acute behavioural disturbance

Our clinical guidance on caring for people displaying acute behavioural disturbance in emergency settings aims to support you to provide person-centred, evidence-based care for some of our most vulnerable Victorians. 

Download the guidance

• It applies to people aged 16–65 years, with acknowledgement that some concepts may apply to people outside this range. 
• It applies to people in emergency departments and urgent care centres and may be adapted for pre-hospital care such as ambulance services. 
• It does not apply to people with a clear organic cause for their acute behavioural disturbance such as a closed head injury, dementia or delirium. 

In addition to the clinical guidance, we have produced a quick reference visual summary and supplement outlining our development methodology.