Aim A survey was carried out to identify the education and training needs of psychiatric intensive care staff and the preferred type of training course. Demand for a specific psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU)/low-secure training course was also examined.

Method A convenience sample was taken from delegates attending a National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (NAPICUs) conference. Questionnaires were given to 130 delegates and a mail-shot was sent to ward managers on 13 PICUs in London.

Results The findings were that staff wanted further training in four main areas: the management of violence and aggression; psychological therapies; communication and engagement skills; and rapid tranquillisation. Most respondents indicated that they would like a course developed specifically for PICU staff at degree level in modular format.

Conclusion This small-scale study highlights the need for further provision of training for PICU staff and provides an insight into their education and training needs. The findings could have significant implications for developing new approaches to education and training for practitioners working with severely ill psychiatric patients.