The dangerous patient.

The dangerous patient requires proper management to ensure appropriate disposition and preclude injury. A safety-conscious public has propelled the issue into the courtroom, and a slowly evolving standard of care is emerging. In some states a legal duty to protect victims of violence exists. Understanding human aggression, the potentiating effects of the environment, and prior methods of coping, as well as assessing current behavioral controls and certain statistical correlates all aid management decisions. Stabilization of the dangerous patient begins with the interview and progresses to medication or restraints as the situation dictates. Once the acute crisis is resolved, attention is directed toward a more thorough review.