The Cost Effectiveness of Alternate Pharmacologic Interventions for Severe Agitation
The treatment of agitation during acute hospitalization is challenging. Behavior must be controlled sufficiently to ensure safety and physiologic stability, while side effects of the pharmacologic regimen need to be minimized. Neuroleptics are commonly chosen due to their relatively quick therapeutic onset, but in addition to a multitude of potential side effects, there is some concern about potential long-term effects on recovery. Other choices available, such as benzodiazepines, opioid agonists and antidepressants, also have the potential for significant side effects. A naturalistic study has been designed to provide preliminary indications of the costs and benefits of alternate pharmacologic approaches, as well as the effects on functional status and cognitive recovery at rehabilitation admission and discharge.