Symptoms and Decisions: Psychosis and Police-Led Psychiatric Crisis Intervention Outcomes

This study investigates how the presence of psychotic symptoms influences police decision-making during psychiatric crisis interventions, particularly regarding outcomes such as jail diversion, emergency department diversion, and involuntary holds. The analysis of over 50,000 crisis encounters reveals that while rates of jail and ED diversion are similar for individuals with and without psychosis, those with psychosis experience significantly higher rates of involuntary holds. The authors advocate for tailored crisis response protocols that consider clinical features and referral dynamics to improve intervention outcomes.