Excited Delirium: Fact or Fiction? (Plenary VI)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

2:30pm – 3:15pm ET

Location: Versailles - 2nd Level

CE: 0.75 CME Credit

Speaker(s)

Valerie A. Pierre, MD, FAAEM, FACEP (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Cortlyn Brown, MD, MCSP, FAAEM (she/her/hers)

Vice Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Carolinas Atrium Health
Charlotte, North Carolina

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Italo M. Brown, MD, MPH

Clinical Assistant Professor
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Disclosure(s): GSK: Consultant/Advisory Board (Terminated, October 25, 2024); Onviv: Consultant/Advisory Board (Terminated, January 24, 2025)
Kelli Robinson, MD, FAAEM (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Session Moderator(s)

Andrew Phillips, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
DHR health
McAllen, Texas

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Zachary Repanshek, MD

Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
Gladwyne, Pennsylvania

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Disclosure(s):

Valerie A. Pierre, MD, FAAEM, FACEP: No financial relationships to disclose

Cortlyn Brown, MD, MCSP, FAAEM: No financial relationships to disclose

Italo M. Brown, MD, MPH: GSK: Consultant/Advisory Board (Terminated, October 25, 2024); Onviv: Consultant/Advisory Board (Terminated, January 24, 2025)

Kelli Robinson, MD, FAAEM: No financial relationships to disclose

This session critically examines the historical context and ongoing debates surrounding excited delirium, a controversial term in emergency medicine often rooted in systemic biases and healthcare disparities. Attendees will explore the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of acute agitation, emphasizing conditions frequently mislabeled as excited delirium. The lack of scientific evidence supporting this term and the implications of its use will be addressed. Evidence-based pharmacologic treatments, including benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and other sedatives, will be discussed, highlighting equitable approaches to care. Through case studies and real-world examples, participants will gain practical strategies to advocate for systemic changes, enhance patient care, and foster trust. This session aims to empower practitioners to promote equitable treatment, especially for marginalized communities.

Learning Objectives:

Summarize the historical origins and evolution of the term "excited delirium" and explain how systemic biases have influenced its diagnosis and management
Describe various non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments for patients who may exhibit signs of evidence-based diagnoses that mimic “excited delirium”
Identify meaningful ways to address disparities in the recognition and treatment of syndromes previously labeled “excited delirium” and advocate for change within their emergency department