The Roots of Agitation: What Causes This State?
Agitation is a symptom with a wide range of potential causes, which can be grouped into three main categories. Identifying the correct root cause is critical for providing effective treatment.
- Psychiatric Disorders This is one of the most common sources of agitation. The chemical and structural changes in the brain associated with these conditions can lead to severe dysregulation of mood and behavior.
- Bipolar Disorder: During manic or mixed episodes, the surge in energy, restlessness, and impulsivity can frequently manifest as severe agitation.
- Schizophrenia: Paranoid delusions, hallucinations, or disordered thinking can make a person feel threatened and overwhelmed, leading to an agitated state.
- Agitated Depression: This subtype of major depression is characterized by the unusual combination of deep sadness and intense, restless motor activity and tension.
- Medical and Neurological Conditions Physical health issues, especially those that affect brain function, can directly trigger agitation.
- Delirium: This state of acute confusion, often caused by infections or metabolic imbalances, is one of the most common and severe causes of agitation.
- Dementia / Alzheimer’s Disease: As brain functions progressively decline, individuals may experience confusion, fear, and restlessness that leads to agitation.
- Head Trauma: Injuries to the brain can disrupt normal neurological function and lead to behavioral changes, including agitation.
- Substance Use and Withdrawal The use or cessation of certain substances can profoundly impact the central nervous system and cause agitation.
- Intoxication: The use of stimulants or an overdose of certain drugs can lead to a state of extreme over-stimulation and severe agitation.
- Withdrawal: The abrupt discontinuation of substances like alcohol can trigger a withdrawal syndrome, which commonly includes restlessness, tremors, and agitation.
Because the causes are so varied and serious, managing agitation properly is critical for a person’s safety and well-being.