For its management , experts agreed in considering  verbal de-escalation  and  environmental modification techniques  as first choice , considering physical restraint as a last resort strategy .
BACKGROUND Psychomotor agitation is associated with different psychiatric conditions and represents an important issue in psychiatry .
Current recommendations on agitation in psychiatry are not univocal .
Actually , an improper assessment and management may result in unnecessary coercive or sedative treatments .
A thorough and balanced review plus an expert consensus can guide assessment and treatment decisions .
High Potency Neuroleptics and Violence in Schizophrenics
In a controlled study ,  inpatient violence  was measured during placebo , high-potency ( haloperidol ) and low-potency ( chlorpromazine or clozapine ) neuroleptics . Some patients had a marked increase in violent behavior with the moderately high-dose haloperidol , but not with low-potency neuroleptics . The authors discuss reasons for the increased violence with haloperidol , including akathisia and drug-induced behavioral toxicity
For its management , experts agreed in considering  verbal de-escalation  and  environmental modification techniques  as first choice , considering physical restraint as a last resort strategy .
BACKGROUND Psychomotor agitation is associated with different psychiatric conditions and represents an important issue in psychiatry .
Current recommendations on agitation in psychiatry are not univocal .
Actually , an improper assessment and management may result in unnecessary coercive or sedative treatments .
A thorough and balanced review plus an expert consensus can guide assessment and treatment decisions .