Referral
People with acute psychoses, or acute organic psychoses, or suffering a psychotic relapse, should be referred urgently.
If, following assessment, you think that a person may be suffering from one of the psychotic illnesses detailed above, you should consider referral to a higher health facility or the nearest facility with mental health specialists. Using the criteria outlined below, decide whether the person needs referring and whether this is an urgent or non-urgent referral. People with acute psychoses or acute organic psychoses, or suffering a psychotic relapse, should be referred urgently. For such emergency cases, you should arrange immediate transport to a higher health facility, either taking them yourself or arranging for others to do so. For less urgent cases, you can use the regular referral route.
Criteria for urgent or non-urgent referral for psychoses.
| Urgent referral | Non-urgent referral |
|---|---|
| If you think a person may be suffering from acute psychosis | If a person has chronic psychosis (organic or non-organic) or recurrent psychosis |
| For a person with acute organic psychosis | If there is non-compliance with treatment |
| If there are signs of relapse or if there are complications from treatment | Failure of treatment |