Prethodno priopćenje

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.03.24

The Pharmacological Approach in the Management of Psychomotor Agitation — Experience from Croatian Psychiatrists

Maja Živković ; School of medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia *
Paula Marinović ; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Petra Sulić ; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Bajs Janović ; School of medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Sagud ; School of medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Šeparović Lisak ; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dunja Degmečić ; University Hospital Center Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Trpimir Glavina ; University Hospital Center Split, Split, Croatia
Ivan Ćelić ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Miroslav Herceg ; School of medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Suzana Vlatković ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Vilibić ; Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Stefanović ; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Mirna Zagrajski Brkić ; General Hospital “Dr. Tomislav Bardek”, Koprivnica, Croatia
Linda Rossini Gajšak ; University Psychiatric Hospital “Sveti Ivan”, Zagreb, Croatia
Petrana Brečić ; School of medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Alma Mihaljević-Peleš ; School of medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

* Dopisni autor.

Sažetak

Psychomotor agitation is a state of motor restlessness and intrapsychic tension that
requires fast recognition and adequate assessment and management to minimize patient anxiety and
reduce the risk for escalation to aggression and violence. It may be caused by a variety of psychiatric
conditions (psychotic disorders, intellectual disability, autism, affective and anxiety disorders, personality
disorders), substance abuse and/or intoxication or withdrawal and a wide range of general medical conditions.
Numerous factors influence the final decision on the choice of adequate pharmacotherapy, such
as clinical presentation, compliance, age, sex, comorbidities and the availability of certain drugs that are
indicated in the management of psychomotor agitation.
Since clinical practice is frequently based on medications or their combinations, as well as the
routes of administration that are not supported by existing evidence coming from research, we conducted
a multi-centric investigation in which we included Croatian psychiatrists working in acute
wards, since they are the ones caring for the majority of patients presenting with agitation. For this
purpose, we created a questionnaire consisting of 13 questions related to the pharmacological treatment
of agitation in terms of the most commonly used medications, their route of administration,
combinations and adverse effects. The results of this research will serve as a basis for the development
of a Croatian protocol for the pharmacological treatment of patients presenting with severe agitation.

Ključne riječi

agitation; aggression; antipsychotics

Hrčak ID:

342950

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/342950

Datum izdavanja:

30.9.2025.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 441 *