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Indian Journal of Psychiatry logoLink to Indian Journal of Psychiatry
. 2022 Mar 23;64(Suppl 2):S484–S498. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_22_22

Assessment and Management of Agitation in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

Bevinahalli Nanjegowda Raveesh 1,2, Ravindra Neelakanthappa Munoli 3, Guru S Gowda 4
PMCID: PMC9122159  PMID: 35602364

AGITATION, AGGRESSION, AND VIOLENCE: AN OVERVIEW

Agitation is a complex topic, not only in definition but also in administration. It is a state of motor and cognitive hyperactivity marked by inappropriate or excessive verbal or motor activity, as well as emotional excitement.[1] According to Garriga et al., agitation is described as “excessive physical or verbal activity, a temporary emergent scenario that fractures the therapeutic partnership and necessitates prompt and immediate action”.[2] Agitation is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)[3] as “There is a link between excessive motor activity and a feeling of inner stress. Pacing, fidgeting, wringing of hands, pulling of garments, and reluctance to sit still are examples of nonproductive and repetitive actions” (DSM -5). Agitation is also defined as a spectrum of physical, verbal, and emotional arousal symptoms ranging from minor to severe.[4] Table 1 summarizes the main behavioral components of Agitation, which are separated into nonaggressive and aggressive actions.

Table 1.

Component behaviours of agitation

Nonaggressive behaviors Aggressive behaviors
Restlessness (akathisia, fidgeting) Physical
Wandering Combativeness, punching walls
Loud, excited speech Throwing or grabbing objects, destroying items
Pacing or frequently changing body positions Clenching hands into fists, posturing
Inappropriate behavior (disrobing, intrusive, repetitive questioning) Self-injury (repeatedly banging one’s head)
Verbal
Cursing
Screaming

Because there is little systematic research in this field, determining the prevalence of acute agitation episodes will be complicated; however, this is a typical emergency seen in emergency rooms, triages, and inpatient facilities. Inpatient, outpatient, and emergency therapeutic settings all have different rates of agitation episodes. It ranges from 10.5%[5] to 52%.[6] It may be higher in emergency clinical settings. Involuntary medication, physical constraint, and seclusion may be used unnecessarily due to ineffective early detection and management of agitation. As agitation is linked to high-risk aggression and violence, early detection of Agitation in a therapeutic environment is critical. In a clinical context, this is critical to protect the patient’s, family’s, and healthcare staff’s safety. Well-developed standardized and appropriate procedures and algorithms can assist healthcare providers in identifying patients at risk of Agitation and assessing and detecting their agitation.[2,7] Martnez-Raga et al. also discuss the preliminary identification of agitation symptoms, which are all listed in Table 2.[8]

Table 2.

Signs for preliminary identification of agitation

Inability to stay calm or still
Motor and verbal hyperactivity and hyperresponsiveness
Emotional tension
Difficulties in communication

As health care facilities are not equipped with skilled healthcare professionals (HCPs), and due to ethical/legal concerns on the various management processes, identification and management of the agitated patient in consultation-liaison are vital. Aggression, aggressive, harmful, or destructive behavior, and physical violence in consultation-liaison settings can impair the established therapeutic environment and rapport with a patient, both directly and indirectly. As a result, evaluating and disseminating empirically determined best practices for diagnosing and managing agitation that is culturally acceptable to patients, carers, and HCPs and economically cost-effective to the healthcare system becomes crucial.

ETIOLOGY OF AGITATION

It is critical to understand the etiopathogeneses of agitation, subsequent risk, and predisposition to physical aggression and violence. The etiology of agitation can be divided into two categories, neither of which is mutually exclusive:

Disease-related

In this case, the source of Agitation is a diagnosable disease, which can be either a medical or mental health problem.

  1. Psychiatric symptoms of nonpsychiatric illnesses

  2. Substance abuse due to intoxication or withdrawal

  3. Psychiatric disease (primary).

Behavioral

Agitation results from a person’s actions rather than a medical or mental condition symptom. This grouping is unlikely if patients gain from medical intervention (e.g., anti-social behavior, criminal behavior). A quick verbal de-escalation trial is considered under these circumstances. Depending on the severity of the agitation, security or law enforcement may be considered. Table 3 lists several different etiologies. Past episodes of aggression/violence, a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the presence of impulsivity/hostility, more extended hospitalization, and involuntary hospitalization are all individual characteristics that consistently increase the risk of physical violence among agitated patients in psychiatric inpatient settings.

Table 3.

Etiology of agitation

Primary psychiatric conditions Medical conditions
Delirium Head injury
Dementia CNS infections- meningitis, encephalitis
Substance intoxication (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, stimulants, hallucinogens, inhalants) Encephalopathies (hepatic, renal, etc.)
Substance withdrawal (alcohol delirium) Brain tumors/metastases
Schizophrenia Stroke
Bipolar affective disorder Wernicke-korsakoff’s psychosis
Agitated depression Metabolic abnormalities (electrolytes, glucose, calcium, etc.)
Anxiety disorder Hypoxia
Personality disorder-antisocial Toxins/poisoning
Autism/intellectual disability Hormonal (thyroid dysfunction)
Posttraumatic stress disorder Seizure (postictal state)
Adverse effects/toxicity of mediations

CNS – Central nervous system

ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION, AND APPROACH TO AGITATION

Assessing and evaluating Agitation for medical and psychological causes in therapeutic settings is critical. These three aspects must be highlighted by healthcare personnel during the examination of an intensely agitated patient:

  1. The patient’s, caregivers, and healthcare workers’ safety

  2. Prompt detection or exclusion of life-threatening medical and psychological conditions

  3. A comprehensive differential diagnosis is considered to discover or rule out other common etiologies.

The safety of patients and employees remains at the top of the priority list. The other technique should be adapted to the patient’s level of agitation and the threat level they pose. Regardless of this strategy, it is important to note that any patient, regardless of their initial level of Agitation, is vulnerable to escalation, Agitation, and aggression under the right circumstances. If warning indicators [Table 4] are recognized during the initial evaluation, the physician and team can anticipate agitation/violence.

Table 4.

The signs of impending violence[10]

Provocative behavior
Angry demeanor, fixed gaze, avoidance of gaze, hostile facial expression
Loud, excited, aggressive speech
Tense posturing (e.g., gripping arm rails tightly, clenching fists)
Pacing or frequently changing body position
Aggressive acts (e.g., pounding walls, throwing objects, hitting oneself)
Behaviour of looking for an escape
Physical signs of stress (e.g., hyperventilation, sweating, tremor)

The following are universal safeguards must be observed during the initial evaluation:

  1. Searching and disarming of patients on a regular, non-confrontational, and nondiscriminatory basis[9]

  2. Interviewing in a calm, quiet, private, but non-isolated environment[10,11]

  3. Objects that could be used as weapons are not allowed in the environment[10,11]

The history and physical examination, which will lead the future evaluation and intervention procedure, can be considered once arrangements for an optimum assessment environment and safety measures have been observed.[12] Any agitation is invariably assigned to psychiatric causes by physicians (anchoring bias), and this bias may induce clinicians to miss or disregard other relevant evidence that could indicate life-threatening illnesses or injuries (confirmation bias).[13] As a result, a thorough history and physical examination can help to reduce bias in clinical decision-making. The primary goal at this stage is to rule out a medical or physical cause for the patient’s symptoms and treat them properly.[14,15]

If patients are cooperative and just slightly agitated, they can describe the circumstances of their presentation, including triggers and appropriate actions. If patients are agitated and unwilling to cooperate, additional sources of information such as friends or family members, attendants, nursing staff, and papers can be used. As shown in Table 5, certain vital information must be acquired from accessible sources.

Table 5.

Critical information which must be part of the history of presenting illness

Timing of agitation
Nature of agitation
Concomitant substance use
Medication details: changes, new medicines, stopped any medicine
Noncompliance to medications
Other medical conditions

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE AGITATION

The amount of agitation in an acutely agitated patient can range from non-agitation (average level of activity) to severe Agitation, and it is often dynamic in response to stimulations and interventions (verbal de-escalation or medications). Table 6 shows the standard differentials that can be examined.

Table 6.

Common and potentially life-threatening aetiologies of the acutely agitated patient[16]

Toxicological Metabolic
 Alcohol intoxication or withdrawal  Hypoglycemia
 Stimulant intoxication  Hyperglycemia/diabetic ketoacidosis
 Other drugs or drug reactions  Hypoxia
Neurologic  Hyper/hyponatremia
 Stroke Other medical conditions
 Intracranial lesion (e.g., hemorrhage, tumor)  Hyperthyroidism/thyroid storm
 CNS infection  Shock syndromes
 Seizure disorder  AIDS
 Dementia  Hypothermia or hyperthermia
Psychiatric
 Psychosis
 Schizophrenia
 Paranoid delusional disorder
 Personality disorder
 Antisocial behavior

CNS – Central nervous system; AIDS – Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

SMART MEDICAL CLEARANCE PROTOCOL (SMART)

Standardized screening protocols have been created to guide focused medical assessments and applied in some situations to help make quick decisions. The SMART Medical Clearance Approach (SMART), developed by Dr. Seth Thomas and colleagues, is one such protocol, as depicted in Figure 1. This can be tailored to meet the specific clinical demands of the practice.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

SMART medical clearance form

PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION OF AGITATION

The medical and psychiatric evaluations of agitation are complementary. Initial exploration – history of current disease, Psychiatric status examination (PSE), working diagnosis, differential diagnosis, risk assessment, completion of psychiatric history, and any definite diagnosis will be on the same agenda for both psychiatric and medical evaluations. Figures 2 and 3 show the evaluation algorithm.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Initial assessment of agitated patient. (*) - ICU - Intensive care unit, HDU - High dependency unit

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Diagnostic evaluation

INTERVENTION

As a first thing to do, the psychiatrist should discuss with referring unit/clinician and explain/educate about the need of:

  • Intervention goals are from the individual patient’s perspective

  • Need of a structured setting to ensure proper evaluation/interventions

    • Privacy: room (private/semi-private)

    • A realistic and clear set of expectations with a written schedule

    • Staff who is responsible for the individual patient’s care

  • Attempt and enlist the patient in the treatment, i.e., past good response to the type of medication, total dose received side/adverse effects, and route of administration.

Attempting to engage the patient in the treatment, based on the patient’s previous positive reaction to the type of medication, total dose received side/adverse effects, and mode of administration.

GOALS OF INTERVENTION

The primary purpose is to keep patients and others safe. Collecting samples for laboratory evaluations, establishing rapport, arriving at a provisional diagnosis, facilitating the resumption of the treating team-patient relationship, calming the patient without sedation, and co-management with a medical/surgical team are all goals to be met during the process. Table 7 lists a few general guidelines to follow while dealing with Agitation.

Table 7.

General recommendations in managing agitation

Initial attempts should identify the most likely cause of agitation and establish a provisional diagnosis and specific medication for the diagnosed cause/condition. Medications as restraint can be discouraged initially before arriving at any provisional diagnosis
Nonpharmacologic methods of interventions should be considered. Environmental modifications to reduce stimulation (low lighting, quiet room) and verbal de-escalation have to be considered, if possible, before medications
Medications sold calm the patient rather than induce sleep
Patient should be kept in the loop of proceedings, even if the patient is agitated. E.g., convey the need for restraints, choice of medication, selection of room/ward, check for preference of route of medicine administration, duration of conditions, etc.
If the patient is cooperative to take oral medicines, then oral medication can be preferred based on resources available for managing any acute exacerbation

MANAGEMENT OF AGITATION

Agitation management begins during the evaluation process; instead, both will co-occur. The steps for dealing with Agitation are as follows: (Hollman and Jeller, 2012)

  • Medical assessment and triage

  • Psychiatric assessment

  • Communication/behavioral Interventions and Verbal De-escalation [Table 8]

  • Interventions in the environment

  • Psychopharmacological therapy

  • Use of restraint/seclusion

  • Coordination with the medical and surgical teams

Table 8.

Communication/behavioural interventions[18]

Nonverbal Verbal
Maintain a safe distance Speak in a calm, more transparent tone
Maintain a neutral posture Personalize yourself
Do not stare; the eye contact should convey sincerity Avoid confrontation; offer to solve the problem
Do not touch the patient
Stay at the same height as the patient
Avoid any sudden movements
Aligning goals of care Monitoring intervention progress
 Acknowledge the patient’s grievance  Be acutely aware of progress
 Acknowledge the patient’s frustration  Know when to disengage
 Shift the focus to a discussion of how to solve the problem  Do not insist on having the last word
 Emphasize common ground
 Focus on the big picture
 Find ways to make small concessions

ENVIRONMENTAL INTERVENTIONS

Environmental interventions will focus on reducing patient sensory stimulation and establishing a safe atmosphere for patients, assisting clinicians in clinical observation, and assuring the patient’s and healthcare workers’ safety. Clearing the space, eliminating harmful objects, having personnel on hand as a “show of force,” close observation, calm dialogue, and lowering the sensory intensity are just a few examples.

RESTRAINTS FOR MEDICAL REASONS

For centuries, medical restraint and isolation have been used in medical and mental settings. Medical restraints have a long history and have developed through time in legal settings.[17] If the patient is unable to assent, written informed consent from the patient and a family member, or solely a family member/legal guardian, must be obtained in the presence of two witnesses. It is essential to know how long medical constraints will last. Every time restrictions are utilized, this should be done. Medical restraints should not be used as a form of punishment or discipline, as a substitute for less restrictive measures, or as a precaution when there is insufficient nursing/healthcare personnel, to name a few examples. Local algorithms can be created to assess when medical restraint can be employed based on the institution’s needs. Figure 4 depicts an example algorithm. Table 9 details the indications and contraindications for medical restraints. Table 10 shows the negative results associated with constraints.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Algorithm to use medical restraint

Table 9.

Indications and contraindications for medical restraints and seclusion

Indications Contraindications
Risk of imminent harm to self Unstable medical condition
Risk of imminent harm to others Severe drug reaction or overdose
Serious destruction to the environment Punishment
Staff convenience
Patient’s voluntary reasonable request If experienced by the patient as positive
Decrease sensory overstimulation* reinforcement for violence or disruptive behavior
Only for seclusion*

*Only for seclusion

Table 10.

Adverse outcomes related to medical restraints

Patient-related adverse events Staff-related adverse events
Asphyxiation Spit upon
Choking/aspiration Fracture or skin injury
Dehydration Eye injury
Joint injuries Permanent disability
Blunt chest trauma Adverse emotional reactions (e.g., sadness, guilt, self-reproach, retribution)
Skin problems (e.g., Bruising)
Cardiac arrest/death
Rhabdomyolysis
Thrombosis (e.g., PE, DVT)
Escaping restraint
Escalating agitation
Re-traumatization
Emotional distress
Feelings of humiliation, fear, dehumanization, isolation, being ignored

PE – Pulmonary embolism; DVT – Deep vein thrombosis

ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL RESTRAINTS: PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SECLUSION

Physical

Hand straps, limb ties, belts, straitjackets, cloth body holders, four-point restraints, tucked securely in bedsheets, bedside rails, and mittens/gloves to avoid scratching are examples of physical restraints. Table 11 lists the elements to consider before employing physical restraints.

Table 11.

Factors to be considered before the physical restraints

• What are the objectives of physical restraint?
• What are the risks associated with particular physical restraint?
• Management plan of specific anticipated risks associated with the particular restraint plan
• Consensus about the exact timing of using a specific physical restraint
• Patient-specific risk factors: age, gender, degree of cooperation, possible intoxication, any medications given, presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders
• Any specific risk factors that may increase the patient’s risk of harm during restraint?
• Vulnerability to significant psychological trauma, especially for minors and the elderly
• Any cultural connotations
• Availability of emergency medicines, oxygen, required medical equipment

Chemical

These mainly consist of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, given orally or intravenously depending on the severity of agitation. These are usually not part of the patient’s continuing treatment plan, and they are primarily intended to limit the patient’s conduct.

Environmental

This includes preventing the patient from moving freely on the premises to guarantee the patient’s and others’ safety. This may be a locked ward.

Seclusion

Entails isolating the patient in a room or area with the doors shut, preventing them from leaving.

MEDICAL RESTRAINT ORDER

The cause for the restriction, the duration of the medical restraint, the type of confinement, and the monitoring schedule should all be included in the medical restraint order. Nutrition, hydration, elimination, hygiene, range of motion, and circulation are all essential needs that must be met for the patient. In addition, the file should include the following documentation: a clinician’s order, an initial assessment by the resident doctor/duty doctor, and an in-person evaluation by the consultant as soon as possible, alternatives that were considered and tried, patient monitoring and outcomes of interventions used, periodic re-assessments for vitals and progress of agitation and physical condition, and psychoeducation of the patient and family member about the medical restraint provided.

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE STAFF CARRYING PHYSICAL RESTRAINT

The personnel in charge of physical restraint should be given specific instructions, as shown in Table 12.

Table 12.

Instructions to the staff carrying physical restraint

Before physical restraint
 Know the steps and plan clearly
 Adheres to the plan discussed to execute the use of physical restraint safely. Ensure that mechanical and postural factors should not interfere in breathing or circulation: e.g., to avoid prone restraint or any other position where the patient’s head or trunk is bent towards their knees
During the physical restraint
 Physical force used should be as per the necessity and in a reasonable manner
 To avoid excessive physical force or verbal aggression
 Ensure and monitor ABC all the time: Airway, Breathing, Circulation
 Consciousness and body alignment have to be monitored by the clinician
 Do not put direct pressure on the neck, chest/thorax, back, or pelvic area
Nurse/resident doctors/duty doctors must observe for physical or mental distress indications and ensure that clinical concerns are timely and appropriately escalated and appropriate intervention is provided
 Specifically, monitor patients who have received intramuscular or intravenous medication within an hour before (or during) the use of physical restraint
 On period reviews, if necessary, physical restraint positions can be changed as per the need and safety of the patient
 Discontinue physical restraint as soon as it is no longer required
 Risk assessment of continuing or discontinuing the physical restraint needs to be continuously assessed and balanced
Postrestraint debriefing
 After the physical restraint ends and the patient is cooperative, a debriefing session with the patient and the patient’s caretakers must be conducted. This is done
  To ensure open discussion about the events that led to the use of physical restraint
  To discuss the patient’s experience of events and physical restraint
  To allow the patient to clarify any doubts or seek more details
  To provide an opportunity to identify the risk factors and plan strategies for the prevention of the need for physical restraint

DOCUMENTATION DURING RESTRAINT

Accurate and complete documenting of restraint episodes is required for adequate and improved care. It will start with the cause for the constraint, and the patients and family member’s/legal representatives’ informed permission. The documentation should include the patient’s mental status, details of medical restraints used and where they were used, vitals, airway/breathing/circulation, condition of limbs, range of motion in limbs, notes on skin care-change of posture, sponge bath, etc., liquids, food, and toileting offered. Appendix 1 is a sample medical restraint flowsheet.

Table 13.

Factors to be considered while choosing medications

• Patient’s details: Age, gender, comorbid medical conditions, substance use, allergies
• Agitation details: Cause, presentation
• Pharmacological considerations: Route of administration, rapidity of action, duration of action, adverse effects and interaction with other medications, past good response to any particular psychotropic
• Monitoring facilities: Airway, breathing, and circulation monitoring facilities; crash cart for any medical emergency, availability of ICU and ventilator
• Patient’s preference of route of administration
• Route of administration
 • Oral: Tablets or syrups can be preferred if the patient accepts
 • IM: Helps in rapid elevation of drug plasma levels and faster onset of action, leading to an immediate reduction in agitation
 • IV administration should be preferred when rapid restraint is essential
 • IM – Intramuscular; IV – Intravenous; ICU – Intensive care units

ALTERNATIVES TO RESTRAINT

According to,[19] about 90% of emergency departments consider employing an alternative before restricting. The most popular strategy is the one-on-one verbal discourse, followed by a time-out or pastoral care. Konito et al. propose three common alternatives:[20,21]

  1. Interventions by nurses – The simple presence of nursing staff around the clock and regular staff talks with the patients will keep them engaged and reduce the likelihood of hostility

  2. Multi-professional agreements involving patients – It was discovered that agreements between physicians, nursing staff, and patients about medications, dosage, ward difficulties, and restraint and seclusion criteria would encourage patients to participate in the treatment process, making them more cooperative and less aggressive

  3. The use of authority/power, whether in the form of ward staff strength or a person with authority, such as a clinician or a senior nurse - presence or a conversation with the authority will aid in managing the violence without the need for restraint.

PHARMACOTHERAPY

Despite these efforts, the patient continues to threaten, toss things, pace, and make hitting gestures, prompting medication use. However, medication preparation should be done at all times. Each hospital ward should have a crash cart with the psychotropics needed for sedation. Security guards should be alerted before the start of the assessment so that they are ready to help right away.

GOALS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY

  1. Pharmacotherapy for acute agitation should, in theory, include the following:

    1. Be non-traumatic and straightforward to use

    2. Have a quick beginning of an action (rapid tranquilization) and last long enough without causing severe sedation

    3. Have a low or no risk of severe side effects and drug interactions.

  2. Rapid tranquilization should be the goal of psychopharmacologic treatment[7]

    1. Calming process separate from total sleep induction

    2. Allows the patient to participate in the care

    3. Helps the clinician to collect history, start a work-up, and initiate the treatment of unidentified conditions

    4. Better therapeutic endpoint

    5. Sleep induction is not the desired outcome.

      1. It conflicts with the goal of participation by the patient

      2. It may not be essential for the improvement in the agitation or decrease in the psychotic symptoms.

PHARMACOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS

The drugs used to treat agitation should be kept in the crash cart. These should be simple to store. It will help if these can be reconstituted and administered quickly. Furthermore, these drugs should have a quick onset of effect. When using the parenteral method, the same medicine may act quickly. The treating team must decide the route of administration based on the severity of the agitation. In general, intravenous administration delivers drugs quickly, and the beginning of action is quicker than when pharmaceuticals are injected intramuscularly or orally. Intravenous formulations are preferred in cases of acute agitation. The medication should be adequate for a long time after being given. The drug supplied should have few side effects and no interactions with other medications. Table 13 lists the elements to consider while selecting drugs. Pharmacological intervention algorithm is given in Figure 5.

Table 14.

Medications used in managing agitation

Initial dose (mg) Tmax* (min) Can repeat (h) Maximum dose (per 24 h), mg
Oral
 Risperidone 2 1 h 2 6
 Olanzapine 5-10 6 h 2 20
 Haloperidol 5 30-60 15 m 20
 Lorazepam 2 20-30 2 12
IM
 Olanzapine 10 15-45 20 m 30
 Haloperidol 5 30-60 15 m 20
 Lorazepam 2 20-30 2 12
 Ziprasidone 10-20 15 10 mg q 2 h 40
20 mg q 4 h
 >Aripiprazole 9.75 1 h 2 30
IV
 Haloperidol 5 Immediate 4 10
 Lorazepam 2 Immediate 2 12

Maximum doses can vary depending on the outcome. q 2 h – Every 2 hours; q 4 h – Every 4 hours, IM – Intramuscular; IV – Intravenous

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Pharmacological intervention

EMERGENCY PSYCHIATRY/AGITATION PHARMACOLOGICAL PREPARATION SALIENT INFORMATION

Combination therapy

  • Medications can be chosen to target to manage different components of agitation

    • Anxiety and increased arousal, to use benzodiazepine

    • Psychotic symptoms, use of antipsychotic.

  • To reduce the side effects combining medications at low doses will help while obtaining the desired effect

  • Most common combination

    • Haloperidol 5 mg IM

  • Lorazepam 2mg IM.

  • Benefits

    • Faster reduction in agitation

    • Fewer injections required

    • Simple to administer

    • Lower incidence of EPS.

    • Side effects

      • Overall, very well tolerated

      • The most common adverse reaction is excess sedation.

        • Recent studies suggest sedation rates appear similar to lorazepam treatment alone.

Special population: Intensive care unit patients

  • Mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients: analgesia and sedation are recommended

  • Atypical antipsychotics can reduce the duration of delirium in ICU patients

Special population: Weaning of ventilation

  • Dexmedetomidine (alpha 2 adrenergic sedative).

    • Better than midazolam (hypertension and tachycardia, time intubated)[1]

    • Better than haloperidol (time intubated, length of stay).

Association for emergency psychiatry recommendations are outlined in Table 14.

Table 15.

Use of benzodiazepines and typical antipsychotics in agitation

Medication class Medication Dosing Side effects/considerations
Benzodiazepine Alprazolam Only available PO Paradoxical reactions can be seen in character-disordered patients and can worsen symptoms in the elderly
Initial dose is 0.5-4 mg/day
Diazepam PO, IM, IV Calming/sedating effect with rapid onset
Start at 5 mg Use cautiously with elderly patients because of the long half-life
Lorazepam PO, SL, IM, IV There are no active metabolites; therefore, there is a small risk of drug accumulation
Start at 1 mg, moderate half-life (10-20 h) Metabolized only via glucuronidation; therefore, it can be used in most patients with impaired hepatic function
Drug of choice within this class due to the moderately long half-life
Typical antipsychotics Haloperidol PO, IM, IV High-potency neuroleptic with favorable side-effect profile and cardiopulmonary safety
Start at 5-10 mg IM, IV IV form less likely to cause EPS
ECG monitoring is needed to assess torsades de pointes or QTc prolongation
NMS risk increases in poorly hydrated, restrained, and kept in poorly aerated rooms while given large doses of antipsychotics
Frequent vital sign checks and testing for muscular rigidity are recommended
Can cause hypotension

Adapted from Allen M, Currier G, Carpenter D: The expert consensus guideline series: treatment of behavioral emergencies, J Psychiatr Pract 11:1-112, 2005. CVD – Cardiovascular disorder; ECG – Electrocardiogram; EPS – Extrapyramidal symptoms; IM – Intramuscular; IV – Intravenous; NMS – Neuroleptic malignant syndrome; PO – Per os (by mouth, orally); SL – Sublingual; PR – Per rectum

The role of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics is shown in Tables 15 and 16.

Table 16.

Use of benzodiazepines and typical antipsychotics in agitation

Medication class Medication Dosing Side effects/considerations
Atypical antipsychotics Risperidone PO, OTD No IM form is available
Starting dose 0.5-2 mg acutely Offers calming effect with the treatment of the underlying condition
Orthostatic hypotension with reflex tachycardia
Increased risk of stroke in the elderly with CVD
Olanzapine PO, OTD, IM Useful in patients with poor reaction to haloperidol
Starting dose 2.5-5 mg, maximum 30 mg/24 h with doses 2-4 h apart Calming medication with the treatment of the underlying disorder
Aripiprazole PO, OTD Akathisia risk
Starting PO dose 5-10 mg, maximum 30 mg/day (currently IM formulation only for extended-release maintenance therapy) Less sedating than other medications
Increased risk of stroke in the elderly
Good choice for patients with QT interval prolongation
Combinations Haloperidol, lorazepam, diphenhydramine, or benzatropine 5 mg IM, 2 mg IM, 50 mg IM, 1 mg IM Most commonly used in the acute setting
Young athletic men are at increased risk for dystonia
Akathisia must be considered if agitation increases after administration

PO – Per os (by mouth, orally); OTD – Orally disintegrating tablet; IM – Intramuscular; CVD – Cardiovascular disorder

CONCLUSION

This article includes a comprehensive discussion of the etiology, evaluations, treatment options, current international accepted agitation management practice, and practical guidance for physicians treating Agitation in inpatient psychiatric and consultation-liaison settings. Agitation should be recognized early using warning signals, and nonpharmacological therapies should be used to deescalate the patient’s agitation, according to internationally accepted agitation management practice. If these tactics do not work, recommendations suggest using medical restraint to calm patients rather than sedating them too quickly. The doctor must decide whether to use a medical restraint order that is non-invasive and simple to use, has a quick onset, successfully calms the patient without sedating them unduly, and treats the patient’s agitation. Medical staff must be trained through mock drills in addition to medical restraint orders and alternatives to ensure best practice. Along with that, documentation and monitoring of the patient’s continued need for medical restraints, mental status, details of medical restraints used and location of restraints, vitals, airway/breathing/circulation, condition of limbs, range of motion in limbs among patients on medical restraint orders, and the alternative is necessary to ensure adequate care and follow the best practice, which is socio-culturally acceptable, suitable, and legally accepted for low-intensity medical restrain.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Appendix

APPENDIX

Appendix 1
Medical restraint flowsheet
I. Patient’s details
Name: Age: Gender: Male/female/others Hosp. No.
II. Clinician’s order
Name: Dr. Date: Time:
a. Doctor’s Orders (orders must be renewed every 12–24 h based on the practice)
 1.
 2.
 3.
b. Initial Order
 Start: Date/time
 End: Date/time
c. Repeat order
 Start: Date/time
 End: Date/time
III. Alternatives attempted before initiation of medical restraints (check all that apply)
 □Re-orient patient to time/date/place/person and/or situation
 □Move patient closer to the nurses’ station
 □Conceal lines/tubes/devices
 □Minimize stimulation
 □Reevaluate need for lines and tubes
 □Appropriate diversional activities
 □Repositioning
 □Pain and sedation intervention
 □Other
IV. Indication for using medical restraints
 □Pulling lines
 □Pulling tubes
 □Removal of equipment
 □Removal of dressing
 □Inability to respond to direct requests or follow instructions
 □Other
V. Type and details of medical restraints applied (Tick all that applies)
 Wrists: Both/right only/left only
 Legs: Both//right only/left only
 Gloves/mittens: Both//right only/Left only
 Waist Belt: Yes/No
 Side railings: Yes/No
VI. Psycho-education of the patient
 a. Informed the patient about the need and alternatives for medical restraints. Yes/No
 b. Periodically patient has explained the behavior required to discontinue the restraint until an understanding was evidenced. Yes/No
Nurse’s name and sign Date and time
Doctor’s name and sign Date and time

Medical restraint flow sheet contd…

VII. Patient’s monitoring chart
In the first hour, observation checks are done every 15 min, then hourly
•15 min: Time_______ Behavior (**See Key)___________ Initials____________
•30 min: Time_______ Behavior (**See Key)___________ Initials____________
•45 min: Time_______ Behavior (**See Key)___________ Initials____________
•60 min: Time_______ Behavior (**See Key)___________ Initials____________
Time (hours) 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 7
Observation check
(**See Key) Q1h
Circulation/skin check
Q2h
Food/fluids
Q2h
Elimination (or F for Foley in place)
Q2h
Range of Motion
Q2h
Change in type or number of
Restraint (*See Key) Q1h
Staff initials
Key: *Restraints **Observed Behavior (May use more than one)
NC=No change CF – Confused; AG – Agitated; VA – Verbally abusive; TF – Tearful; JC – Hallucination; DL – Delusional; A – Patient asleep; SD – Sedated; SB – Subdued; CA – Calm; CO – Cooperative; O – Other
↑3=Increase to 3pt
↑4=Increase to 4pt
↓1=Decrease to 1pt
↓2=Decrease to 2pt
↓3=Decrease to 2pt

VIII. Restraint discontinued:

Date: ................... Time: ....................... ◻N/A (ongoing)

Discontinue restraint at the earliest possible time that it is safe to do so, regardless of the scheduled expiration time of the orders

Table investigations and rationale

Table investigations and rationale

Investigation Rationale
Haemogram: Hb, TC, DC, ESR, Platelets, Indices To evaluate infective etiology, anemia
RFT: Urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium To evaluate renal causes and electrolyte imbalances
LFT: Total/direct bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio To evaluate hepatic causes, acute/chronic liver disease, hepatic encephalopathy
TFT: T3, T4, TSH To evaluate thyroid etiology
Sugars: RBS, FBS, PPBS, HBA1C Hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia related causes
Urine complete analysis, microscopy, and urine drug screening For detection of substances
Serum toxicology Based on the history
Drug levels If on valproic acid, lithium, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and toxicity is suspected
Ultrasound abdomen and pelvis Based on history and indication: Blunt trauma abdomen
12-Lead ECG For cardiac causes and cardiac monitoring for medication-related changes
CT/MRI brain/part of the interest As per the history and indication
Lumbar puncture and EEG As per the indication

Hb – Hemoglobin; HBA1C – Hb A1C; AST – Aspartate transaminase; ALT – Alanine aminotransferase; FBS – Fasting blood sugar; CT – Computed tomography; MRI – Magnetic resonance imagin

Association for Emergency Psychiatry Recommendations

Situation Preferences
Undifferentiated agitation/suspected intoxication with stimulant or withdrawal from alcohol/benzodiazepine Oral benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam 1-2 mg)
Parenteral benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam 1-2 mg IM or IV)
Acute intoxication with CNS depressant (e.g., alcohol) Avoid benzodiazepine if possible
Oral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg)
Parenteral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg IM)
Delirium (not associated with alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal) Oral 2nd generation antipsychotic (e.g., risperidone 2 mg, olanzapine 5-10 mg)
Oral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., low dose haloperidol)
Parenteral 2nd generation antipsychotic (e.g., olanzapine 10 mg IM)
Parenteral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol low dose IM or IV)
Schizophrenia or mania Oral 2nd generation antipsychotic alone (e.g., risperidone 2 mg, olanzapine 5-10 mg)
Oral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg with benzodiazepine)
Parenteral 2nd generation antipsychotic (e.g., olanzapine 10 mg IM)
Parenteral 1st generation antipsychotic (e.g., haloperidol 2-10 mg IM) along with benzodiazepine (e.g., lorazepam 1-2 mg)

CNS – Central nervous system; IV – Intravenous

Salient pharmacological features of benzodiazepines

Class/molecule Pharmacological features
Benzodiazepines Act by facilitating the activity of GABA, which is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Therapeutic effects due to decreased arousal
Target symptom anxiety
Can be used alone or in combination with antipsychotics
Preferred in a patient in whom agitation is secondary to alcohol or sedative withdrawal
Side effects to consider
Excessive sedation; added sedation when combined with CNS depressant
Respiratory depression; to avoid in patients with risk for CO2 retention
Paradoxical disinhibition in high doses in patients with structural brain damage, mental retardation, or dementia
Ataxia
Typical antipsychotics (FGA) Dopamine antagonist
Advantageous effects: as antipsychotic and for agitation
Preferred in acute agitation
Low potency FGA: Not recommended
High potency FGA (haloperidol): virtually no anticholinergic properties, little risk of hypotension, no respiratory depression, can be given IV, the onset of action is within 30 min and lasts up to 12-24 h
Side effects to consider
EPS
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
Dystonia
Akathisia
Parkinson-like effects
QTc prolongation
May lower the seizure threshold
Atypical antipsychotics (SGA) Broader spectrum of response
Different side effect profile
Fewer EPS and akathisia
QTc concern remains
Metabolic syndrome on prolonged use
Olanzapine
IM dose range of 5-10 mg
Maximum of 30 mg/day
15-45 min until peak plasma concentration
21-54 h elimination half-life
Oral dose range 5-10 mg and flexible-dose up to 40 mg/day
Risperidone
1–6 mg PO or ODT
Oral risperidone concentrate 2 mg+oral lorazepam 2 mg equivalent to IM haloperidol 5mg+IM lorazepam 2 mg
Oral risperidone 2 mg equally effective as oral haloperidol 5 mg
Risk of EPS
Aripiprazole
Partial dopamine agonist
Oral aripiprazole 15 mg as effective as oral olanzapine 20 mg
Low risk for QT interval prolongation (<1%)
Quetiapine
25 mg onwards up to 400 mg
1–3 h to peak plasma concentrations
Shallow risk of EPS
Sedation and orthostasis are side effects

FGA – First generation antipsychotics; EPS – Extrapyramidal symptoms; SGA – Second generation antipsychotics; CNS – Central nervous system; IV – Intravenous

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