This Article Corrects: “Best Practices for Evaluation and Treatment of Agitated Children and Adolescents (BETA) in the Emergency Department: Consensus Statement of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry”
Abstract
Introduction: Agitation in children and adolescents in the emergency department (ED) can be dangerousand distressing for patients, family and staff. We present consensus guidelines for management ofagitation among pediatric patients in the ED, including non-pharmacologic methods and the use ofimmediate and as-needed medications.
Methods: Using the Delphi method of consensus, a workgroup comprised of 17 experts in emergencychild and adolescent psychiatry and psychopharmacology from the the American Association forEmergency Psychiatry and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Emergency ChildPsychiatry Committee sought to create consensus guidelines for the management of acute agitation inchildren and adolescents in the ED.
Results: Consensus found that there should be a multimodal approach to managing agitation in theED, and that etiology of agitation should drive choice of treatment. We describe general and specificrecommendations for medication use.
Conclusion: These guidelines describing child and adolescent psychiatry expert consensus for themanagement of agitation in the ED may be of use to pediatricians and emergency physicians who arewithout immediate access to psychiatry consultation.