Decision Making in Behavioral Emergencies: Acquiring Skill in Evaluating and Managing High-Risk Patients

Phillip M. Kleespies, PhD, was awarded his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Clark University in 1971. He is a clinical psychologist in the Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine.   Dr. Kleespies has more than 40 years of experience in working in emergency department, urgent care clinic, and inpatient psychiatry settings with patients who are at risk of such behavioral emergencies as suicidal behavior, violence, and interpersonal victimization. In 2013, he was recognized with the Outstanding Clinician Award presented by the VA Section of APA Division 18 (Psychologists in Public Service).   Dr. Kleespies has also been an active supervisor and teacher to psychology interns and psychology postdoctoral fellows with an interest in evaluating and managing patients at risk to self and others. His research interests have included the development of a database for the study of self-injurious and suicidal behavior in veterans and the impact of patient suicide and suicidal behavior on the treating clinicians.   Dr. Kleespies has authored and coauthored many publications, and he has made numerous presentations on behavioral emergencies and related topics. He is a contributing author and the editor of the books Emergencies in Mental Health Practice: Evaluation and Management (1998) and Behavioral Emergencies: An Evidence-Based Resource for Evaluating and Managing Risk of Suicide, Violence, and Victimization (2009). In addition, he is the author of the book Life and Death Decisions: Psychological and Ethical Considerations in End-of-Life Care (2004).   He has served as a member of the VA Boston Ethics Case Consultation Team, the VA Boston Palliative Care Consult Team, and the VA Boston Violence Threat Assessment Committee.   Dr. Kleespies is a diplomate in clinical psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology and an APA fellow. He was the founding president of the Section on Clinical Emergencies and Crises, Section VII of APA Division 12 (Society of Clinical Psychology), and he remains involved with the section as advisor to the Executive Board.