The Journal of family practice
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The emergency management of the agitated patient is a common medical problem. Agitated behavior is not a diagnosis but a descriptive term; the initial task of the physician involves determining the etiology of the behavioral disturbance and evaluating the possible contribution of organic factors. ⋯ Agitated patients will generally fall into one of four diagnostic categories: agitation precipitated by drug intoxication, agitation precipitated by drug withdrawal, agitation precipitated by an organic brain syndrome, or agitation precipitated by a functional disorder. Appropriate pharmacological and psychological management techniques for these situations are discussed.