Strategies for optimal management of pediatric acute agitation in emergency settings
Acute agitation in youth is a challenging presentation to the emergency department. In many cases, however, youth can be behaviorally de-escalated using a combination of environmental modification and verbal de-escalation. In cases where additional strategies such as pharmacologic de-escalation or physical restraint are needed, using the least restrictive means possible, including the youth in the decision-making process, and providing options are important. This paper reviews specific considerations on the approach to a youth with acute agitation and strategies and techniques to successfully de-escalate agitated youth who pose a danger to themselves and/or others.
Authors
- Dina Wallin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8988-7565)
- Muhammad Waseem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8720-955X)
- Samuel H. F. Lam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8134-1231)
- Timothy Ruttan
- Melanie Heniff
- Sam Shahid
- Tabitha Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9976-2448)
- Genevieve Santillanes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3349-0379)
- Emily Rose (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6876-7337)
- Gwendolyn C. Hooley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6913-3704)
- Ashley A. Foster (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3059-6218)
- Marianne Gausche‐Hill (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6367-8455)
- Joyce Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8112-2701)
- Mohsen Saidinejad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4782-0597)
- Siraj Amanullah
- Kathleen Brown (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5768-2098)
- Isabel A. Barata
- Madeline Joseph
- Kathleen T. Berg
- Sophia Lin
Institutions
- University of Southern California (US)
- Lincoln Medical Center (US)
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- George Washington University (US)
- Cornell University (US)
- Brown University (US)
- UCLA Medical Center (US)
- Children's Hospital Colorado (US)
- Los Angeles Medical Center (US)
- Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell (US)
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital (US)
- Harbor–UCLA Medical Center (US)
- Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
- Indiana University School of Medicine
- Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (US)
- American College of Emergency Physicians (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- University of Colorado Denver (US)
- Florida College (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
- Published
- 2024-08-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13255
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.47
Funders
- American College of Emergency Physicians