Crisis Intervention

A crisis occurs when an individual is confronted by events which he or she does not have the resources to cope with. The crisis may be precipitated by events which bring about sudden change in the person's environment, e.g. bereavement, redundancy, or child birth. The crisis will evoke anxiety in the individual which he/she will attempt to control by use of their usual coping mechanisms.

If these coping mechanisms fail, the person may devise new strategies to try and cope, but if these too are ineffective the person's state of anxiety increases with deterioration in their morale. They may well, at that point, utilise maladaptive coping strategies, such as substance abuse, deliberate self-harm or violent behaviour. Further escalation of anxiety leads to a state of decompensation in which normal psychological functioning breaks down.

Crisis therapy aims to intervene as soon as possible after the onset of the crisis in order to enable the individual to overcome the crisis, minimise the usage of maladaptive coping strategies and avoid complete psychological breakdown. It is a short-term intervention, which may require intensive involvement of the therapist with the patient, and sometimes also members of their family.

Crises are more common in those with severe mental illness and personality disorders. There are many potential causes of a crisis, including:

• Adolescence
• Menopause
• Retirement
• Redundancy
• Changes of role, e.g. getting married, having a child, more demanding job
• Relationship problems, e.g. with partners or child
• Conflict: usually due to a difficult choice where neither alternative is acceptable
• Serious injury or loss of a limb
• Bereavement
• Post traumatic stress
• Non-compliance with medication in someone with pre-existing severe mental illness

• Management will depend on the severity and cause of the crisis as well as the individual circumstances of the patient.
• Many relatively minor crises can be managed by providing friendly support in primary care without referral.
• However more severe crises will require referral to counsellors or the local Mental Health Team.
• Crisis therapy includes short-term behavioural/cognitive therapy and counselling. Involvement of family and other key social networks is very important.
• Therapy should be relatively intense over a short period, and discontinued before dependence on the therapist develops.
• The risk of suicide and self harm must be assessed at presentation and at each review.
• The aims of treatment are to:
  • Reduce distress
  • Help to solve problems
  • Avoid maladaptive coping strategies, e.g. self harm
  • Improve problem solving strategies

• The earliest stages of crisis therapy are concerned with the clarification of the patient's problem.
• The therapist then encourages patient to express their emotions around the crisis, e.g. grief.
• The patient is encouraged to seek support from their social network of friends and family.
• The patient is asked to discuss their coping mechanisms and the therapist encourages appropriate methods.
• Alternative problem-solving strategies are generated and their potential consequences discussed.
• Therapist attempts to discourage inappropriate beliefs and coping methods either by direct suggestion or using cognitive methods such as:
  • Keeping diary of events and their surrounding thoughts and feelings
  • Practising and testing new behaviours
• More adaptive methods of coping are identified and their implementation encouraged

• People with severe mental illness who are in a crisis often need hospital admission. If admission is not considered necessary or appropriate, urgent liaison with Community Mental Health Services is essential.
• A recent Cochrane review found that home care crisis treatment, coupled with an ongoing home care package, is a viable alternative to hospital admission for crisis intervention for people with serious mental illnesses.¹
• Nearly half of the people in crisis allocated to home care eventually needed to be admitted to hospital, but the crisis/home care package may help avoid repeat admissions.¹
• Home care is also probably more cost effective.¹
• Ensure that the patient has a Care Plan that is up to date and has been thoroughly reviewed, is specific to the views and needs of the individual, and is fully understood by the patient. The Care Plan must include the action to be taken in a crisis by the service user, their carer, and their care co-ordinator. The Care Plan should include contact details for all relevant support agencies, including out of hours, as well as clear guidelines for the patient to follow in order to prevent further crises.