[Phenomenology and psychopathology of agitation states]

States of agitation are frequent psychiatric emergency cases, which stem from very different biological, psychic and social constellations. Very often it is a question of a slipping expression of strong affects like fear, anger, pain and of excessive, reactive performances like flight, defence etc., which are built on top of the affects. Inner restlessness, which rises from unrestrained and disfigured drives, and the accompanying autonomic reactions of the affects promote the beginning of these states of agitation; whereas sensible expectations and clearly aimed absorptions of the drive do reduce the disposition to becoming agitated.