A psychiatric intensive care unit in a medium-security unit

Psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) have been described in a number of district hospital services, but there are no reports on PICUs in medium-security psychiatric facilities. This study compares the characteristics of 73 patients who were admitted to a PICU in a medium-security unit between 1 July 1994 and 30 April 1998 with a random sample of 73 patients admitted to the same unit during the same time who did not require care in the intensive care unit. PICU admission was associated with being female, having a history of suicidal ideation or self-harming behaviour, threats of violence towards staff and alcohol abuse. Of these variables, threats of violence and self-harm were the most significant factors associated with PICU admission. Further studies are required to examine the nature and operation of PICUs in other secure psychiatric settings.