Gravely disabled
Formal Definition
A legal standard, defined in state mental health law, indicating that a person is unable to provide for their own basic needs of food, clothing, or shelter due to a mental disorder; one of the three criteria (along with danger to self and danger to others) that may justify involuntary psychiatric detention.
How It's Used on the Ward
"GD" or "gravely disabled" — used in clinical and legal documentation to justify holding a patient who is not actively suicidal but cannot care for themselves.
Example
""Patient is not expressing SI but has been wandering the streets for a week, has not eaten in days, and is unable to state her name or address — criteria for gravely disabled met. Initiating hold.""
Clinical Context
Gravely disabled is distinct from danger to self/others — it captures patients with severe disorganization (florid psychosis, severe mania, dementia) who cannot meet basic needs without support. Common in presentations of first-episode psychosis, untreated schizophrenia, or severe manic episodes. A patient can be held as gravely disabled even if they are not threatening harm. Documentation must reflect the specific functional impairment, not just a diagnosis.