There is limited research on the attitudes of nursing staff towards psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) for general adult populations, and none examining attitudes in older adult PICU populations. The aim of this study was to examine these attitudes in one Scottish health board region.

A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to nursing staff working in general and older adult psychiatric admission and PICU wards.

Of 138 responders, PICUs were considered necessary by 96.4%, with 93.5% agreeing on the need for a separate older adult PICU. PICU staff had more influence on discharges from the PICUs compared to non-PICU staff. The main reasons for admission to PICU services were physical violence and absconding, and for refusing admission were acute ward containment and medication issues, with few differences between the general adult and older adult PICUs.

There were more similarities than differences in nursing attitudes between the general adult and older adult PICUs but many staff feel inadequately trained and supported. The combination of service-user reports, the demographic shift to an aging population and the increase in mental health detentions in the older adult population suggest a need to consider age-appropriate psychiatric intensive care services.