Agitation: Conceptualization, measurement, and treatment

Agitation in the elderly, as conventionally conceptualized by health profes sionals, is a commonly occurring, highly disabling set of emotions and beha viors. The immediacy, unpredictability, and intermittence of symptoms prese nt safety and manageability issues for families and caregivers. A broad ran ge of incidences may be accounted for by inconsistencies in the nosology, m easurement, and biopsychosocial conceptualizations of agitation, leading to the misinterpretation of data and, consequently, to ineffective and variab le treatment practices. The Overt Agitation Severity Scale is recommended a s an objective measure of observed agitated behaviors, which, if present, a lert clinicians to search for the specific underlying disorders that elicit ed the agitation. Specific biopsychosocial treatment strategies are discuss ed including pharmacological, psychological, familial, spiritual, and envir onmental interventions. The objective interpretation of agitation severity will lead so more appropriate interventions for the management of these typ es of highly problematic behaviors.