Managing Agitation in an Alcohol-Intoxicated Patient

Agitation is a common presentation in patients with acute alcohol intoxication and requires prompt, structured management. When agitation is accompanied by psychomotor activity or violent behaviour, the risk of harm to both patient and staff is significant.

Clinical Scenario

        Agitation occurring in the setting of acute alcohol intoxication — a frequent emergency encounter that warrants immediate, goal-directed intervention to ensure safety.
      

Treatment Approach

Verbal de-escalation plays a central role as a first-line intervention in most patients presenting with this scenario. The full structured protocol — including when escalation beyond this initial step is indicated — is available via the link below.

Clinical goal: resolution of agitation.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens

References

Agitation is a common component of encounters for AI. Agitation, particularly when associated with psychomotor activity or violence, puts the patient and staff at significant risk for morbidity, and thus warrants prompt treatment.

The first-line treatment for agitation in most patients with AI should be verbal de-escalation, unless the patient is actively exhibiting violent behavior or poses an imminent threat.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.01.010

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