CHAPTER 74 PHARMACEUTICAL RESTRAINTS FOR PSYCHOTIC AGITATION

Haloperidol, Lorazepam or Both for Psychotic Agitation? A Multicenter, Prospective, Double-blind, Emergency Department Study

Battaglia J, Moss S, Rush J, et al. Am J Emerg Med. 1997;15(4):335–340

BACKGROUND

Haloperidol has been used in escalating doses to control agitated psychotic patients, reduce assaults, and decrease the need for physical restraints. In practice, low-dose antipsychotics are often combined with lorazepam, or other benzodiazepines, for better behavioral control. At the time of this study prior trials had evaluated this practice but had limitations in study design: unblinded investigators, minimal measurement of drug adverse effects, and had no evaluation of the patient beyond falling asleep the first time.

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively evaluate the clinical response of patients in an ED to rapid tranquilization (RT) using either lorazepam or haloperidol, or both in combination.

METHODS

Prospective, randomized controlled trial at five different hospital emergency rooms over an 18-month period.

Participants

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