Therapeutic activities within Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units

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Introduction Therapeutic activities not only enhance an individual's development, but they can also assist in the management of problematic behaviour and maintenance of a safe environment. The importance of providing therapeutic activities within a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is highlighted in the National Minimum Standards for General Adult Services in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units and Low Secure Environments: An effective PICU design will have given the provision of therapeutic activity an equal status to safety and security. (Department of Health 2002a, p. 13) The range of activities that can be offered within a PICU requires careful consideration in order to meet the acute, complex and challenging needs of the patient population. Clinicians are faced with the task of identifying appropriate strategies and ensuring the necessary structures and systems are in place in order for therapeutic activities to be safely and consistently provided. This chapter aims to provide clinicians with an introduction to the relevant literature supporting therapeutic activities and presents a practical approach towards developing and maintaning a therapeutic programme within a PICU/Low Secure Unit (LSU). It will explore the benefits and limitations of providing a therapeutic programme and describe how these activities can be effectively implemented within this specialised environment. Activity Activities are central to human existence and are vital to meeting basic human needs (Drew and Rugg 2001; Kielhofner and Butler 2002; Law 2002).