Citation

Gerson R, Malas N, Mroczkowski MM. Child Adolesc. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. 2018; 27(3): 367-386.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, 3959 Broadway CHONY 6N, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chc.2018.02.002

PMID

29933788

Abstract

Acute agitation in children and adolescents in the emergency department carries significant risks to patients and staff and requires skillful management, using both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies. Effective management of agitation requires understanding and addressing the multifactorial cause of the agitation. Careful observation and multidisciplinary collaboration is important. Medical work-up of agitated patients is also critical. Nonpharmacologic deescalation strategies should be first line for preventing and managing agitation and should continue during and after medication administration. Choice of medication should focus on addressing the cause of the agitation and any underlying psychiatric syndromes.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Aggression; Agitation; Delirium; Emergency department; Restraint/seclusion