Introduction

Clinical agitation is a state of internal restlessness and pronounced tension that manifests as increased motor, verbal, and/or behavioral activity. It is a complex symptom complex, fundamentally different from the layperson’s understanding of simple irritability or anger. While an emotional response like anger is often transient and proportionate to an external trigger, clinical agitation signals a severe state of internal distress and a loss of self-control, often stemming from a significant underlying medical or psychiatric condition.

Recognizing agitation is of critical importance in any clinical setting. It is a transdiagnostic symptom that frequently heralds a medical or psychiatric emergency, posing a potential danger to the patient, healthcare providers, and others in the immediate environment. The presence of agitation can severely impair a patient’s ability to cooperate with assessment and treatment, making the diagnostic process challenging. This monograph provides clinicians with a structured framework for the differential diagnosis of agitation, designed to guide a safe and effective approach to patient management and treatment planning.