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Review
. 2021 Apr 20;18(8):4368.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18084368.

The Management of Psychomotor Agitation Associated with Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder: A Brief Review

Maurizio Pompili  1 , Giuseppe Ducci  2 , Alessandro Galluzzo  3 , Gianluca Rosso  4   5 , Claudia Palumbo  6 , Domenico De Berardis  7   8
Affiliations
Review

The Management of Psychomotor Agitation Associated with Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder: A Brief Review

Maurizio Pompili et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The early and correct assessment of psychomotor agitation (PMA) is essential to ensure prompt intervention by healthcare professionals to improve the patient's condition, protect healthcare staff, and facilitate future management. Proper training for recognizing and managing agitation in all care settings is desirable to improve patient outcomes. The best approach is one that is ethical, non-invasive, and respectful of the patient's dignity. When deemed necessary, pharmacological interventions must be administered rapidly and avoid producing an excessive state of sedation, except in cases of severe and imminent danger to the patient or others. The purpose of this brief review is to raise awareness about best practices for the management of PMA in emergency care situations and consider the role of new pharmacological interventions in patients with agitation associated with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Keywords: agitation; bipolar disorder; loxapine; psychomotor agitation; schizophrenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

M.P., in the last two years, has received lectures or advisory board honoraria or engaged in clinical trial activities with Allergan, Angelini, Glaxo SmithKline, Janssen, Lundbeck, MSD, Otsuka, Recordati which are unrelated to this article. Gianluca Rosso in the last two years has been a speaker and/or consultant for Angelini, Lundbeck, Janssen-Cilag, and Glaxo SmithKline. He has also been involved in clinical studies promoted by Janssen-Cilag and Lundbeck. D.D.B. in the last two years has been speaker and/or consultant for Angelini, Lundbeck, Janssen-Cilag, and Recordati. He has been also involved in clinical studies promoted by Angelini and Janssen-Cilag and Lundbeck. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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