Using atypical neuroleptic drugs to treat agitation in patients with a brain injury: a review

Agitation during brain injury rehabilitation remains a significant impedime nt to expedient and effective care. While health care providers differ in t heir definition of agitation, it is agreed that treatment is usually best a chieved using an interdisciplinary approach inclusive of: physiatry, psychi atry and rehabilitation professionals. Neuroleptic drugs have been used to effectively treat agitation but have a side effect profile that may have lo ng-term consequences on cognition and motor recovery. This literature revie w presents the typical and atypical neuroleptics used to treat agitation, r esearch in support of their use, guidelines for drug selection, and special considerations for trauma-related agitation in the elderly brain injured p opulation.