Excited Delirium Syndrome: Cause of Death and Prevention

by DiMaio; Theresa G.

• ISBN13: 9780849316111
• ISBN10: 0849316111
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-09-22
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

During a routine investigation, a suspect turns hostile. The officers on the scene spring into action and get the suspect under control by handcuffing him. Though the suspect has been successfully subdued - he dies shortly thereafter…A psychiatric patient suddenly becomes violent. The hospital staff struggles to control the patient with four point restraint. While order has been restored and the patient has been restrained - she dies soon afterward…Criminal and civil cases often cite "positional asphyxia" as the cause of death in such instances, blaming the rough treatment individuals may have received during restraint. The authors of Excited Delirium Syndrome: Cause of Death and Prevention, however, propose a different explanation. In this groundbreaking book, they cite the reason being a condition called Excited Delirium Syndrome, in which the normal physiological changes produced by violent activity culminate in sudden cardiac death, often in conjunction with the effects of a drug.After introducing the topic, the book recounts the condition's history and examines traditional explanations as to why such deaths occur, and then counter as to why they are not justifiable. In addition, it illustrates the effects that stressors, legal medication, and drugs of abuse have on the cardiovascular system. The effects of underlying disease, including endogenous mental disease are also discussed. In addition, the book details prevention, assesses the role of first responders, investigators, and mental health professionals, and describes "high-risk" individuals.These topics, along with the many actual case studies that provide further insight, make Excited Delirium Syndrome: Cause of Death and Prevention an essential resource for anyone treating or interacting with those that may have this disorder.

Table of Contents

Introduction to death due to excited delirium syndrome	p. 1
History of excited delirium syndrome	p. 7
Traditional explanations for death due to excited delirium syndrome	p. 33
Physiological reactions to stress	p. 45
Effects of drugs on the heart, brain, and sympathetic nervous system	p. 55
Synthesis of physiological reactions to stress, natural disease, drugs of abuse, and medications in cases of excited delirium	p. 69
Medico-legal investigation of deaths due to excited delirium syndrome	p. 75
Cases of excited delirium syndrome	p. 83
Prevention of excited delirium syndrome : the police and first responders	p. 97
Sudden death of the psychiatric patient in mental health facilities	p. 115
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.