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.