Acute behavioural disturbance — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: E — Move to a safer position, assess ABCDE and request urgent medical support

Option E is correct because Acute behavioural disturbance carries risk of hypoxia, acidosis and sudden death, especially during prone restraint. Option B is less appropriate because watchful waiting risks deterioration or delays definitive care; option C is less appropriate because the clinical risk exceeds that destination or timeframe. Option A is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option D is less appropriate because analgesia is important but not sufficient as the primary intervention. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care guidance