Agitation
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Definition
Agitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal (stirred up or excited), increased tension, and irritability.
Alternative Names
Restlessness
Considerations
Agitation can come on suddenly or over time. It can last for just a few minutes, or for weeks and even months. Pain, stress, and fever can all increase agitation.
Agitation by itself may not be a sign of a health problem. However, if other symptoms occur, it can be a sign of disease.
When agitation lasts for hours and there is a change in alertness (altered consciousness), doctors call this delirium. Delerium always has a medical cause.
Common Causes
There are many causes of agitation, some of which include:
- Alcohol intoxication or withdrawal
- Caffeine intoxication
- Intoxication or withdrawal from drugs of abuse (such as cocaine, marijuana, hallucinogens, PCP, or opiates)
- Hospitalization (older adults often have delirium while in the hospital)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
- Infection (more often in elderly people)
- Medical tests that involve injecting a "contrast medium" into the patient
- Nicotine withdrawal
- Theophylline or other medicines
- Vitamin B6 deficiency
Agitation can occur with brain and mental health disorders, such as:
References
Park JM, Park L, Prager LM. Emergency psychiatry. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 87.
Rossi J, Swan MC, Isaacs ED. The violent or agitated patient. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2010;28:235-256.
Review Date: 2/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Michelle Benger Merrill, MD, Instructor in Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Alternative Names
Restlessness
Home Care
The most important way to deal with agitation is to find and treat the cause. If left untreated, agitation leads to an increased risk of suicide.
After treating the cause, the following measures can reduce agitation:
Don't restrain an overly agitated person, if possible. This usually makes the problem worse. Only use restraints if the person is at risk of harming themselves or others, and there is no other, less restrictive way to control the behavior.
Call your health care provider if
Contact your health care provider for agitation:
- That lasts for a long period of time
- That is very severe
- If there are other unexplained symptoms
What to expect at your health care provider's office
Your health care provider will take a medical history and do a physical examination.
To help better understand your agitation, your doctor may ask the following questions:
- Type
- Are you more talkative than usual or do you feel pressure to keep talking?
- Do you find yourself doing purposeless activities (e.g., pacing, hand wringing)?
- Are you extremely restless?
- Are you trembling or twitching?
- Time pattern
- Was the agitation a short episode?
- Is the agitation persistent?
- How long did it last -- for how many day(s)?
- Aggravating factors
- Does the agitation seem to be triggered by reminders of a traumatic event?
- Did you notice anything else that may have triggered agitation?
- Do you take any medications, especially steroids or thyroid medicine?
- How much alcohol do you drink?
- How much caffeine do you drink?
- Do you use any drugs, such as cocaine, narcotics, or "speed" (amphetamines)?
- Other
- What other symptoms do you have?
- Is there confusion, memory loss, hyperactivity, or hostility (these symptoms can play an important role in diagnosis).
Diagnostic tests may include:
References
Park JM, Park L, Prager LM. Emergency psychiatry. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 87.
Rossi J, Swan MC, Isaacs ED. The violent or agitated patient. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2010;28:235-256.
Review Date: 2/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Michelle Benger Merrill, MD, Instructor in Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Review Date: 2/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Michelle Benger Merrill, MD, Instructor in Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.