Table 2.

Key research questions to guide efforts for improved care of older adults with behavioral changes through improved management strategies.

Question 4	What is the most effective pharmacologic agent to manage acute agitation in the acute care setting?
Question 5	Does earlier treatment with psychotropic medications decrease length of stay in the emergency department (ED) for elderly agitated patients and does choice of treatment matter?
Question 6	How often are older adults restrained physically or chemically in the ED; does the rate of restraint use vary with underlying psychiatric disorders, and what are the harms or benefits of their use?
Question 7	What are barriers to initiating pharmacologic treatment for acute psychiatric illness in the ED among older adults?
Question 8	Does the initiation of home-based services for patients discharged from the ED with dementia help reduce the rate of ED return visits?
Question 9	What are the necessary components of an effective decision-support tool to determine whether it is safe to start or stop psychiatric medications, and does the use of such a tool improve outcomes?