Focused clinical evaluation of patients with behavioral disorders in ER

Literature and clinical experience document how patients with behavioural disorders – including both those with agitation and aggression and passivity-hypoactivity conditions – can be primarily affected by psychiatric diseases or organic conditions of various kinds, most notably CNS diseases, metabolic diseases, infections, intoxications and adverse reactions to medication. It is therefore important for the organisation of Accident and Emergency Departments and the approach of the medical staff working there to allow overall evaluation of these patients to identify the presence of urgent clinical situations and referral of the patients to the most appropriate programme. A set of observations on the subject, put forward by a dedicated commission of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), provides the opportunity for this brief review.