The Diagnosis and Management of Agitation

A practical guide to the origins and treatment options for agitation, a common symptom of psychiatric and neurologic disorders.

Scott L. Zeller (Edited by), Kimberly D. Nordstrom (Edited by), Michael P. Wilson (Edited by)

9781107148123, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 February 2017

292 pages, 6 b/w illus.
24.2 x 16.2 x 2 cm, 0.56 kg

'… a comprehensive, practical, humane, well-written, and wise book. The authors present context and evidence clearly, provide extremely useful tables, and artfully illustrate their approaches with lively case examples. I strongly recommend this book to psychiatrists and emergency medicine physicians at all levels of training, including students, as well as to other clinicians who treat patients in emergency and inpatient settings, both psychiatric and general medical. It provides an invaluable, humane framework grounded in science and decency, with extremely practical recommendations; it is the best overview I have read on the topic.' Mary Anne Badaracco, The American Journal of Psychiatry

A common symptom of psychiatric and medical disorders, agitation often appears in a variety of medical environments. This practical guide explores the origins of the condition and the differing approaches and treatments available. The biology of agitation is discussed, followed by specific chapters on substance abuse, medical causes, personality disorders, and treatment in pediatrics and the elderly. Treatment options including psychiatric work-ups, medical work-ups, psychopharmacology, de-escalation, and calming techniques are provided. The complexities of legal issues, patients' rights, and prehospital settings are also addressed, providing physicians, nurses, and mental health workers with a comprehensive resource in providing safe, focused, and effective treatment.

1. Agitation: where we're going, where we've been Scott L. Zeller
2. The biology of agitation Scott A. Simpson
3. Medical evaluation of the agitated patient Seth Thomas and Nathan Beckerman
4. Agitation due to substance use, abuse, and withdrawal Alexander Schorb and Heinz Grunze
5. Medical causes of patients with agitation: systemic illness Sandra Schneider
6. Special populations: agitation in elderly patients Eric L. Anderson
7. The psychiatric evaluation of patients with agitation Joachim Scharfetter
8. Psychiatric causes of agitation: exacerbation of personality disorders Paul R. Borghesani, Sharon Romm and Jagoda Pasic
9. Psychiatric causes of agitation: exacerbation of mood and psychotic disorders Marina Garriga, Isabella Pacchiarotti, Miquel Bernardo and Eduard Vieta
10. Collaborative de-escalation Jon S. Berlin
11. Agitation in field settings: emergency medical providers and law enforcement Thom Dunn and Charles Dempsey
12. Use of force in the prehospital environment Yuko Nakajima and Gary M. Vilke
13. Appropriate use of restraint and seclusion Naomi Schmelzer
14. Pharmacologic treatment of agitation Leslie Citrome
15. Understanding the environmental, social, familial, and cultural context of agitation Julien J. Cavanagh de Carvalho
16. The ethics of agitation: when is an agitated patient decisionally capable? David Pepper and Michael P. Wilson
17. Patient rights, patient and family perspectives on agitation Phyllis Foxworth
18. Diagnosis and management of agitation in children and adolescents John S. Rozel, Keith R. Stowell and Gregory D. Thorkelson.

Subject Areas: Accident & emergency medicine [MMK], Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH]