Update on the evaluation and treatment of agitation

Leslie S Zun

Update on the evaluation and treatment of agitation

Leslie S Zun

Chicago Medical School, USA

: Int J Ment Health Psychiatry

Abstract

The evaluation and treatment of agitated patients in the emergency setting is evolving. New treatment modalities, treatment guidelines and research have modified the approach to the care plan. Medical evaluation of the psychiatric patient should be clinically based. Although haloperidol and lorazepam is the mainstay of treatment for all patients; whatever the etiology is being supplanted by early agitation assessment and tailoring medications to the underlying disorder. The BETA (Better Evaluation and Treatment for Agitation) guidelines have mandated use of verbal de-escalation as the first step in treatment as a means to reduce the use of restraints and seclusion. This session will update the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients in the emergency setting.