[Treatment of agitation in the emergency room]

The treatment of agitation in the emergency room is a subject regularly treated in different studies and conferences because of the diagnosis difficulties and the psychological impact on medical teams. Differential diagnosis includes organic, toxic and psychiatric causes. Non-pharmacological means (emergency rooms' organisation, communication skills, first care teams' formation) allow resolution of some of these situations. When psychopharmacological intervention is required benzodiazepines (lorazepam) and neuroleptics (haloperidol, olanzapine) are indicated, first orally, then intramuscularly if requested by noncollaborative patient. Combination of drugs is not to be recommanded. Side effects of current medication are to be well known, that's why only a small number of molecules are to be used, after controlled studies.