Acute behavioural disturbance: what's in a name?

Abstract

Acute behavioural disturbance (ABD) is a highly contentious topic, with debate about its validity as a construct. Particular concerns have been raised about how it places societal problems ‘in’ people – disproportionately from minority ethnic backgrounds – medicalising being a victim of violence. The author reflects on his experiences ‘with’ ABD.

Keywords

• Acute behavioural disturbance
• excited delirium
• new psychoactive substances
• transcultural psychiatry
• patients