PARA 3334 - Psychological and Behavioral Emergencies

Prerequisites: PARA 2234, PARA 2237, PARA 2238, PARA 2239, PARA 3331. This module discusses the various kinds of psychological problems the paramedic might encounter. Emphasis is placed on crisis-induced states that the paramedic will confront when dealing with emergency situations. Critical incident stress and effective handling of provider stress will be discussed. In addition, the student will gain an understanding of various psychoses and neuroses and will learn how to differentiate between psychiatric and organic causes of behavioral change. Procedures and techniques for handling psychiatric emergencies are included. The clinical portion includes time in a psychiatric facility and the psychiatric crisis unit of the emergency department. This course may be taught through a special agreement with the Yale New Haven Hospital Center for EMS. 3 credits.