[Incidence of acute agitation and variation in acute agitation management by emergency services].

OBJECTIVES

To describe the management of acute agitation by Spanish emergency medical services (EMS) and assess the incidence of acute agitation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Observational descriptive study based on aggregate data from unpublished internal EMS reports.

RESULTS

Seven participating emergency services received 4 306 213 emergency calls in 2013; 111 599 (2.6%, or 6.2 calls per 1000 population) were categorized as psychiatric emergencies. A total of 84 933 interventions (4.2%, or 4 per 1000 population) were required; 37 951 of the calls concerned agitated patients (1.9%, or 2 cases per 1000 population). Only 3 EMS mandated a specific procedure for their responders to use in such cases.

CONCLUSION

The agitated patient is a common problem for EMS responders. Few teams apply specific procedures for managing these patients.