title: Agitation in the elderly: an often-treatable manifestation of acute brain syndrome.
abstract: Agitation in elderly patients is often caused by acute cerebral failure, more commonly called acute brain syndrome, delirium, or acute confusional state. Defects in cognition, sleep-waking cycles, and psychomotor behavior result. Careful history taking, physical examination, and laboratory testing may reveal a specific, reversible organic factor related to the acute brain syndrome. This article outlines the clues to recognizing agitation due to a cerebral failure and gives guidelines for workup and management.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives