title: The agitated brain injured patient. Part 1: Definitions, differential diagnosis, and assessment.
abstract: This two-part review provides a critical analysis of the scientific and clinical literature on the agitated brain injured patient. Part 1 reviews nomenclature and classification issues, differential diagnosis, and assessment instruments designed for evaluation of the patient. Pathophysiology and treatment approaches will be discussed in Part 2 in a subsequent issue of the Archives. The review was unfortunately hampered by a lack of consistency in definitions, little scientific study of the neuroanatomic and neurochemical basis for the disorder, few outcome studies, and no randomized controlled treatment trials. Part 1 sets forth an interdisciplinary definition of agitation, establishes a differential diagnostic approach, and describes and critiques the assessment instruments available for clinical evaluation of the agitated patient. Part 2 will address treatment interventions including pharmacological, environmental, and behavioral approaches to this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sandel
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Mysiw
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D001519:Behavior; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D009626:Terminology as Topic