Psychiatrists increasingly consult on the treatment of acute traumatic
brain injury (TBI) when combativeness compromises safe critical care. The
author discusses use of carbamazepine for 7 combative patients with
multiple trauma including TBI. This cohort had a clinical decrease in
combativeness within 4 days after carbamazepine, compared with this Level I
trauma center's experience of prolonged combative periods without its
use.
Abstract Teaser