title: Agitation in the medically ill elderly.
abstract: Agitation is a common and significant problem in the medically ill elderly. It is responsible for diminished quality of life for not only the patient, but the caregivers as well as the patient's relatives. This paper will illustrate the concept of agitation and different modes of classification. The major emphasis will be placed on discussing prompt, correct diagnosis of the underlying cause of agitation and effective treatment of both the cause of agitation and the symptoms of agitation itself.
authors.affiliation: Division of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse 13210, USA. Alaoa@upstate.edu
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Alao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soderberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology; D003693:Delirium / Q000150:complications; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004779:Environment Design; D006801:Humans; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents