Excited Delirium is not an Excuse for Use of Force by Police: Commentary on ‘Knowledge and Skills for Social Workers on Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams’ (Ghelani, 2021)

AbstractExcited delirium is a term that has been used in policing and emergency medicine to describe a condition characterized by bizarre, agitated, and aggressive behaviours. In the article ‘Knowledge and skills for social workers on mobile crisis intervention teams,’ I used this term in reference to people in crisis who may present with engagement barriers and aggressive behaviours. Evidence has emerged that law enforcement organizations are using it to justify the excessive use o f force by officers and deaths of people during police interactions. The American Psychiatric Association and American Medical Association have released statements emphasizing that excited delirium is not an official diagnosis and denouncing its use as a justification for the use of force against pe ople with mental health concerns. Social workers should be aware of this controversy and avoid the use of this term in crisis intervention practice and documentation. I regret the inclusion of this language in my article and recognize that excited delirium is not a valid diagnosis, nor should it be considered a legitimate rationalization for the use of force by law enforcement officers.
Source: Clinical Social Work Journal - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research