NEW FRONTIERS OF NEUROPHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT OF BRAIN INJURY AGITATION

The treatment of agitation and aggression in the TBI patient continues to be a challenge in both the immediate period following injury and l ater, in the community setting. While there are few studies of non-tra ditional pharmacologic compounds in TBI subjects, studies of other pat ient populations with related disorders have been referenced for infor mation on new and experimental compounds. In this article, medications such as the serotonergic system enhancers, atypical neuroleptics, cen tral nervous system stimulants, hormonal agents, and opioid antagonist s are reviewed at a basic science and clinical level. Possible directi ons for their use in the brain-injured patient are discussed.