RT Book, Section A1 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 57720191 T1 Chapter 195. Chemical Restraint T2 Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e YR 2013 FD 2013 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-161352-1 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57720191 RD 2024/03/29 AB Acute agitation, psychosis, and violent behavior are common presentations in the Emergency Department (ED). It has been estimated that 32% of EDs in teaching hospitals report daily verbal threats and that 25% restrain at least one patient per day.1,2 Management of the agitated patient presents a complex challenge of minimizing the risk of potential violence while enabling appropriate clinical evaluation of the agitated state. The underlying diagnosis is often unknown and treatment must often be rendered urgently with limited time for decision making. Such presentations can interfere with the ED evaluation and treatment as well as compromise both patient and staff safety. These behavioral emergencies may require pharmacologic intervention to reduce agitation, resume a more normal physician–patient relation, and facilitate safety.