LnRiLWZpZWxkcy1hbmQtdGV4dFtkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLWZpZWxkcy1hbmQtdGV4dD0iMzU1MDRkNGI5MGU0YTQ1ODQ4MmI0MGNlMzNmMTlmNTkiXSB7IGZvbnQtc2l6ZTogMTJweDtwYWRkaW5nOiAxMnB4O2JvcmRlcjogMnB4IHNvbGlkIHJnYmEoIDAsIDExMywgMTkyLCAxICk7Ym9yZGVyLXJhZGl1czogNXB4OyB9IC50Yi1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHRbZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHQ9IjM1NTA0ZDRiOTBlNGE0NTg0ODJiNDBjZTMzZjE5ZjU5Il0gcCB7IGZvbnQtc2l6ZTogMTJweDsgfSAudGItZmllbGRzLWFuZC10ZXh0W2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtZmllbGRzLWFuZC10ZXh0PSJmMGQ5ZmRkOGQzNGE0MWE3M2ZiMjhjNGE4NzMzYjc3NSJdIHsgYmFja2dyb3VuZC1jb2xvcjogcmdiYSggMCwgMTEzLCAxOTIsIDEgKTttYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tOiAxMnB4O3BhZGRpbmc6IDEwcHggNnB4IDFweCA2cHg7Ym9yZGVyLXJhZGl1czogMDsgfSAudGItZmllbGRzLWFuZC10ZXh0W2RhdGEtdG9vbHNldC1ibG9ja3MtZmllbGRzLWFuZC10ZXh0PSIzOTUzMTQ3OTg2MjFkM2VlYWYwZGQ1NTljMjk3NjNjNyJdIHsgZm9udC1zdHlsZTogaXRhbGljOyB9IC50Yi1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHRbZGF0YS10b29sc2V0LWJsb2Nrcy1maWVsZHMtYW5kLXRleHQ9IjM5NTMxNDc5ODYyMWQzZWVhZjBkZDU1OWMyOTc2M2M3Il0gcCB7IGZvbnQtc3R5bGU6IGl0YWxpYzsgfSA=
Fernández Gallego V, Murcia Pérez E, Sinisterra Aquilino J, Casal Angulo C, Gómez Estarlich MC
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
Agitated patients must be managed fairly often in routine emergency department
practice. After safety measures are taken during initial assessment, a tentative diagnosis
based on the cause of agitation (physical condition, underlying mental disorder, or
extreme anxiety) should be made. That diagnosis will facilitate possible resolution of the
problem through dialog with the patient or through physical restraint. If restraint is
chosen, the manner of proceeding should be planned and at least 5 persons should be
involved. The restraining maneuver is usually followed by administration of
benzodiazepines, neuroleptic agents, or a combination of both in order to assure
sedation. It is important to remember that these patients pose a threat to their families,
emergency room staff, and themselves; therefore, they are candidates for voluntary or
involuntary admission to a psychiatric unit. If that is the course of action chosen,
admission must comply with the law and adequate restraint and sedation should be
prescribed. All such actions should be recorded in the emergency department’s report to
the psychiatrist on duty, who will be the admitting physician.
