Psychomotor Agitation: Causes & Reasons

Warning: Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for Psychomotor Agitation

Mania

Manic-depressives and agitated depressives were also excluded. Patients with mania and/or psychomotor agitation had predominantly right hemisphere lesions. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

She presented with a predominantly expansive mood, psychomotor agitation, disorganized and pressured speech, flight of ideas, grandiosity, delusions, and auditory hallucinations [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

When used in amounts exceeding those recommended, this practice, known as "robotripping," may result in a manic toxidrome of psychomotor agitation, hostility, grandiose behavior [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Bipolar Disorder

Note: in children, consider failure to make expected weight gains. insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable [bipolar.stanford.edu]

[…] i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli) 6. increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor [web.archive.org]

agitation excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., the person engages in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual [bipolar.stanford.edu]

Catatonia

agitation) might lead to extreme exhaustion and death.[7,8] In the 40 cases described by Bell, severe insomnia and psychomotor agitation did lead to exhaustion and death [innovationscns.com]

Excited catatonia is a less common presentation in which patients develop prolonged periods of psychomotor agitation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] medical conditions, and affective disorders.[9] A combination of two or more of these (psychosis, mania, delirium, catatonic states, combative behavior, insomnia, and extreme psychomotor [innovationscns.com]

Acute Amphetamine Intoxication

Haloperidol can be considered as an adjunct to benzodiazepines for afebrile patients with normal vital signs and psychomotor agitation that requires chemical restraint. [emedicine.medscape.com]

Within one hour of use, at least two of the following psychological symptoms: psychomotor agitation elation grandiosity loquacity hypervigilance C. [dsm.wikia.com]

Patients with severe hyperthermia (temperature >104°F) associated with psychomotor agitation may require immediate neuromuscular paralysis to rapidly decrease temperature. [emedicine.medscape.com]

Agitated Depression

Patients who suffer from agitated depression accompanied by psychomotor agitation and irritability are prone to suicidal ideation and attempts and must therefore be diagnosed [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

PURPOSE: The diagnostic validity of agitated depression (AD, a major depressive episode (MDE) with psychomotor agitation) is unclear. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In the cases without psychomotor agitation, inner unrest is the main symptom. [onlineceucredit.com]

Severe Depressive Episode

Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains. (4) Insomnia or Hypersomnia nearly every day (5) psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day [behavenet.com]

Psychomotor Agitation and Psychomotor Retardation Psychomotor agitation and retardation occur in depression, producing states of over activity and under activity respectively [psychnet-uk.com]

Unusual agitation or restlessness OR being sluggish and hesitant and/or confused in speech nearly every day ( psychomotor agitation or psychomotor retardation ). [verywellmind.com]

Mixed Anxiety and Depressive Disorder

Psychomotor agitation; Psychomotor agitation in psychosis; Psychomotor agitation epileptic nature; psychomotor paroxysm; psychomotor seizures; excitation Symptoms; The symptoms [drdoping.com]

Other potential symptoms include: Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain and changes in appetite Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day Psychomotor agitation [psycom.net]

[…] of psychomotor agitation; Status agitation; Status anxiety; excitation condition; Status of high concern; Condition of psychomotor agitation; anxiety states; excited states [drdoping.com]

Hypomania

After the third dose he presented with psychomotor agitation, pressured speech, irritability, aggressive behaviour and insomnia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

agitation Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequence In order for the mood to be considered manic, these symptoms [healthyplace.com]

agitation Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences The mood must also be unusual for the individual and noticeable [healthyplace.com]

Phencyclidine Intoxication

Within one hour, at least two of the following psychological symptoms: euphoria psychomotor agitation marked anxiety emotional lability grandiosity sensation of slowed time [dsm.wikia.com]

The prevalent clinical signs and symptoms were the following: retrograde amnesia, nystagmus, hypertension, and psychomotor agitation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Clinically significant problematic behavioral changes (e.g., belligerence, assaultiveness, impulsiveness, unpredictability, psychomotor agitation, impaired judgement) that [dsm.wikia.com]

Depression

Changes in Activity or Energy Level Physical Changes Caused by Depression Unexplained aches and pains Weight loss or gain Decreased or increased appetite Psychomotor agitation [verywell.com]

Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day. [depression.org]

Less commonly, depression may lead to behaviors that seem more restless in nature, like pacing, fidgeting, or hand gesturing, called psychomotor agitation. [health.com]

Schizoaffective Disorder

Increase in goal-directed activity with psychomotor agitation. Excessive involvement in high-risk activities - eg, shopping sprees. [patient.info]

Rarely neutral) Motor (possible psychomotor agitation or retardation) Appearance (ranges from well-groomed to dishevelled) Cooperativeness (patient may be cooperative or uncooperative [symptoma.com]

Psychomotor agitation or retardation. Fatigue. Feelings of guilt or worthlessness. Decreased concentration. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal notions. [patient.info]

Anticholinergic Toxicity

Patients with hallucinations often respond to reassurance and do not require specific treatment unless they also have significant psychomotor agitation. [emedicine.medscape.com]

[…] delirium : Excessive use of tricyclic antidepressants (or other medications with significant anticholinergic effects ) can cause life-threatening delirium, hallucinations, and psychomotor [amboss.com]

He became extremely agitated and was treated with intravenous benzodiazepines (total quantity in 26 hours equivalent to 125 mg diazepam) but remained agitated. [emj.bmj.com]

Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

agitation or retardation; increased appetite; and vivid, unpleasant dreams; the criterion symptoms in B are clinically significant or cause distress in social, occupational [health.gov.au]

[…] patients must exhibit at least two of the following symptoms: increased hand tremor, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, transient hallucinations (auditory, visual or tactile), psychomotor [en.wikipedia.org]

Cocaine Mechanism block biogenic amine (DA, NE, 5HT) reuptake Intoxication presentation mental status changes euphoria, psychomotor agitation, grandiosity, hallucinations [medbullets.com]

Barbiturate Withdrawal

agitation, anxiety, in addition to symptoms already mentioned, developing within hours to days after cessation Symptoms and signs mentioned in criterion 2 result in impairment [symptoma.com]

Cocaine Mechanism block biogenic amine (DA, NE, 5HT) reuptake Intoxication presentation mental status changes euphoria, psychomotor agitation, grandiosity, hallucinations [medbullets.com]

[…] are present Tremulousness, insomnia, agitation are present Tremulousness, insomnia, agitation are present Benzodiazepines and Other Sedative/Hypnotics The signs and symptoms [aafp.org]

Involutional Depression

agitation or retardation nearly every day; fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day; feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt; diminished ability to [idref.fr]

Seishin Igaku Volume 55, Issue 6 （June 2013）精神医学 55巻6号（2013年6月） Japanese English 連載「継往開来」操作的診断の中で見失われがちな，大切な疾病概念や症状の再評価シリーズ激越型うつ病 Agitated Depression 佐藤晋爾 1, 朝田隆 1 Shinji [webview.isho.jp]

Regardless of age at onset, patients over age 50 had more agitation, initial insomnia, and hypochondriasis than those under 50. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Amphetamine Delusional Disorder

This condition manifests as a combination of delirium, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, delusions, hallucinations, speech disturbances, disorientation, violent and bizarre [ipfs.io]

[…] include auditory and visual hallucinations, grandiosity, delusions of persecution, and delusions of reference concurrent with both clear consciousness and prominent extreme agitation [en.wikipedia.org]

Psychomotor retardation or agitation. The stimulant (or closely related substance) is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. [mentalhealth.com]

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Downregulation and decreased sensitivity of γ-aminobutyric acid receptors render benzodiazepines less effective at controlling psychomotor agitation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Psychomotor agitation. Anxiety. Additionally, there can be transient perceptual disturbances in form of visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations or illusions. [mentalhelp.net]

Psychomotor agitation 7. Anxiety 8. Grand mal seizures C. [aafp.org]

Crack Ingestion

There are some descriptions of cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia and infarction, myocarditis, hypertension, sudden death, seizure, hyperthermia, psychomotor agitation [hindawi.com]

Though cocaine can cause grand mal seizures by a variety of mechanisms, [6,7] our patient's psychomotor agitation did not resemble seizure activity. [anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org]

Over 4–6 min, she received 12 mg midazolam and 2.5 mg droperidol, but her agitation continued to escalate. [anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org]

Hyperthyroidism

agitation Psychosis Causes of hyperthyroidism Approximately 20 causes of thyrotoxicosis and hyperthyroxinemia have been characterized ( see Related resources ). 11, 13 - [currentpsychiatry.com]

After tracheal extubation, the patient exhibited abnormal tachycardia, agitation, sweating, and hyperpyrexia. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] often seen in older patients) Cognitive impairment Delirium Depression Emotional lability Fatigue Hypomania or mania Impaired concentration Insomnia Irritability Mood swings Psychomotor [currentpsychiatry.com]

Delirium

agitation or retardation, inappropriate mood or speech, sleep/wake cycle disturbance, and symptom fluctuation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Psychomotor agitation: Are there signs of restlessness, such as fidgeting, finger tapping, or suddenly changing positions? [medicalnewstoday.com]

[…] screening checklist of eight items based on DSM criteria and features of delirium: altered level of consciousness, inattention, disorientation, hallucination or delusion, psychomotor [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Thyrotoxic Crisis

Confusion, agitation, delirium, psychosis, seizures or coma. [patient.info]

A ntibiotics (To combat infection) B enzodiazepines (For agitation) C ooling (External cooling, no salicylates) C arbimazole D igoxin (For cardiac failure) P ropranolol P [medicowesome.com]

It is characterized by a high fever (temperatures often above 40 °C/104 °F), fast and often irregular heart beat, elevated blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, and agitation [en.wikipedia.org]

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

agitation (ie, hyperactivity). [merckmanuals.com]

[…] following symptoms: Fatigue Irritability (a tendency to get angry easily) Sleeping difficulties Headaches Nausea Diarrhea Excessive sweating Trembling Restlessness (severe agitation [quebec.ca]

[…] disorder can be confused with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because generalized anxiety disorder can cause difficulty paying attention and can result in psychomotor [merckmanuals.com]

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium

The CIWA-AD is copyrighted, whereas the CIWA-Ar is not. [7] The RASS (Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale) and Riker SAS (Sedation Agitation Scale) are agitation/sedation scales [emedicine.medscape.com]

The withdrawal or abstinence syndrome is characterized by coarse tremor of the hands, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, transient visual, tactile [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Clinical findings associated with DTs may include the following: Tachycardia Hyperthermia Hypertension Tachypnea Diaphoresis Tremor Mydriasis Altered mental status Severe psychomotor [emedicine.medscape.com]

Cinchonism

Rare cases of acute psychosis and psychomotor agitation have been reported with subtherapeutic quinidine levels in elderly patients. [ Ref ] Musculoskeletal Musculoskeletal [drugs.com]

Mild-to-moderate lidocaine toxicity may result in the following: Drowsiness Insomnia Light-headedness Dysphoria Vision changes Tinnitus Dysarthria Ataxia Depression Agitation [emedicine.medscape.com]

agitation within 90 minutes of the initial dose of quinidine. [drugs.com]

Malignant Catatonia

A 13-year-old female is described with presumed viral encephalitis, who developed progressive catatonia, agitation, and autonomic dysfunction. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Symptomatically, severe agitation alternated with severe retardation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The symptoms of NMS/MC include severe agitation, behavior disregulation, motor and speech changes, self-injury and aggression, autonomic instability, and a range of psychiatric [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Alzheimer Disease

agitation, wandering). [dx.doi.org]

In one study, those with milder symptoms at baseline were significantly less agitated at three months in the discontinuation group (NPI-agitation, Mann-Whitney U test z = [hdl.handle.net]

It remains uncertain whether withdrawal of antipsychotics has beneficial effects on cognitive or psychomotor, or both, status. [doi.org]

Haldol

Nearly one half of patients with Alzheimer's disease may experience psychomotor agitation. [aafp.org]

The CHMP agreed that Haldol injection can be used in adults as follows: for rapid control of severe acute psychomotor agitation linked to psychotic disorder or manic episodes [ema.europa.eu]

Agitation Disease Attributes Pathologic Processes Pain Neurologic Manifestations Signs and Symptoms Headache Disorders, Primary Headache Disorders Brain Diseases Central [clinicaltrials.gov]

Schizophrenia

There were no external circumstances to explain the observed intensity of psychomotor agitation symptoms. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In cases where the patient is agitated but more redirectable, sedation can be administered orally. [emedicine.medscape.com]

After an initial improvement, he developed symptoms of psychomotor agitation and it was necessary to decrease the dose of sarcosine. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Cocaine Dependence

Primary symptoms of cocaine dependence may include: agitation and restless behavior depressed mood fatigue generalized malaise increased appetite vivid and unpleasant dreams [drug.addictionblog.org]

When you give up cocaine, you may feel agitated, depressed, exhausted and angry. [luxury.rehabs.com]

Cocaine dependence withdrawal triggers symptoms such as: agitation anxiety extreme cravings extreme suspicion or paranoia fatigue irritability lack of pleasure sleepiness [drug.addictionblog.org]

Graves Disease

High levels of T4 and T3 lead to HYPERthyroidism with characteristic HYPERthyroidism signs and symptoms including tachycardia, insomnia, anxiety and agitation, increased bowel [youtube.com]

The symptoms of hyperthyroidism (due to any cause) include: Weight loss Heart palpitations Fatigue Muscle weakness Agitation Irritability Insomnia Increased sweating/heat [verywellhealth.com]

[…] movements shaking of hands muscle weakness and loss of muscle bulk swelling of nail beds a feeling of thirst and frequent urination difficulty in sleeping, restlessness, agitation [yourhormones.info]