Acute psychosis

Mental illnesses are the leading causes of disability worldwide. Psychotic disorders occur in about 3% of people in the general population during their lifetimes. Patients experiencing acute psychosis need a medical provider who is capable of differentiating among medical, drug-induced, and psychiatric causes of the presentation to initiate the most appropriate management plan. This article focuses on the role of the acute care NP in medical clearance evaluations and initial management of adult patients experiencing acute psychosis in acute care settings.