The National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care Units was formed following the 1st National Conference on Psychiatric Intensive Care held in London in 1996 and organised by Dr Dominic Beer, Dr Stephen Pereira and Pharmacist Carol Paton. Following the conference a multi-disciplinary group of clinicians met and created what was is now known as NAPICU.,

NAPICU key aims are to advance psychiatirc intensive care and low secure services, improve mechanisms for the delivery of psychiatric intensive care, audit effectiveness and to promote research, education and practice development within the speciality. NAPICU and its members have played a key role in the research and development of the new National Minimum Standards for PICU and Low Secure Services launched by the Minister for Health, J Smith MP in April 2002.

NAPICU provides quarterly educational forums for debate and training at meetings held throughout the United Kingdom which are hosted by NAPICU Members and are free to members. These forums have proved to be a very popular way of sharing good practice with colleagues. Practitioners also have the opportunity to complete a course on PICU at the South Bank University London. September 2007 will also see the launch of a new 'e' based learning course for staff devised by NAPICU and Kingston University. Members can also participate in an annual award scheme which was launched in 2004. Both UK and International members will recieve the Bi annual International Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care and a second publication the NAPICU Bulletin. An annual Travel Bursary is also available. All members have access to a free (conditions apply) Vacancy Board. Very often membership is self funding. By attending the regional metings free of charge (£25 for non members), recieving discounted rates for national conference and a free copy of the journal often (£28 per issue) the cost of membership is quickly reclaimed.