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agitation
Etiology:
- schizophrenia
- bipolar affective disorder
- cognitive impairment (psychosis & agitation in the elderly)
- stress
Clinical manifestations:
- inappropriate verbal or motor behaviors
- excessive motor activity associated with a feeling of inner tension
- the activity is generally repititious & non-productive
- examples of such activity include:
a) pacing
b) figediting
c) wringing of hands
d) pulling of clothes
e) inability to sit still
Management:
- see specific etiology
- treat underlying etiology
- see psychosis & agitation in the elderly
- ketamine may be useful as a rescue agent for severely agitated patients presenting a danger that are difficult to sedate [3]
Specific
psychosis, agitation & difficult behavior in the elderly
General
sign/symptom
References
- Sultzer, D. In: Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine &
Board Review, Marina Del Ray, CA, Sept 12-15, 2001
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed.,
Text Revision, DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association,
Washington DC, 1994
- Isbister GK.
Ketamine as rescue treatment for difficult-to-sedate severe
acute behavioral disturbance in the emergency department.
Ann Emerg Med 2016 Feb 18
PMID: 26899459
http://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644%2815%2901562-0/abstract