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Agitation in elderly patients is often caused by acute cerebral failure, more commonly called acute brain syndrome, delirium, or acute confusional state. Defects in cognition, sleep-waking cycles, and psychomotor behavior result. Careful history taking, physical examination, and laboratory testing may reveal a specific, reversible organic factor related to the acute brain syndrome. This article outlines the clues to recognizing agitation due to a cerebral failure and gives guidelines for workup and management.
Robert P. Granacher (Wed,) studied this question.