Pharmacological treatment of agitation in a nursing home.

Agitation is a significant problem in the management of residents in long-term care settings. This study assessed the pharmacological treatment of agitation in a 550-bed nursing home and correlated nurses' ratings of agitation with pharmacological treatment. It further examined the differential use of various psychotropic agents in the management of several sub-types of agitated behavior. Significant results included: (1) subjects designated as demented and agitated were most likely to receive neuroleptics, while non-demented agitated residents were most likely to be treated with a benzodiazepine; (2) agitated individuals received significantly less antidepressant treatment than non-agitated patients. The sub-typing of agitation may allow for the possibility of more selective treatment of various agitation syndromes.