Manejo da agitação psicomotora em pacientes com COVID -19

Psychomotor agitation is a frequent situation that requires training and an individualized approach. However, little information is available to standardize Manejo da agitacao psicomotora em pacientes com COVID -19 Management of psychomotor agitation in patients with COVID -19 the management of this situation in patients infected by COVID-19. The objective of this study is to propose a psychomotor agitation protocol for patients with COVID-19. A narrative review of the literature was conducted by the Brazilian Psychiatric Association (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Universidade Federal do Tocantins (Tocantins, Brasil). The review was conducted on PubMed by a group of experts (eight psychiatrists, one allergist-immunologist, and one infection disease specialist). Of the 144 articles retrieved, 62 manuscripts were selected. The protocols currently available present the necessary information for the management of agitated patients (management of the setting and team), including communication, rapid tranquilization, and physical restraint. However, in cases with suspected infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), additional measures should be adopted to prevent contamination. Moreover, the pharmacological approach needs to be tailored to each case, taking side effects and drug interactions into consideration. It is possible to conclude that infection by SARS-CoV-2 in patients presenting with psychomotor agitation due to mental illness require specific care and adjustments to treatment protocols.