Agitation Scale
A standardised rating instrument used to quantify the severity and frequency of agitated behaviours in older adults, particularly those with acquired brain injury or dementia during inpatient rehabilitation.
Full Definition
The Agitation Scale—most commonly the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) or the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) in geriatric contexts—provides clinicians and editors with a reproducible metric for documenting behavioural disturbance. In rehabilitation documentation, scores inform decisions about environment modification, pharmacological review, and therapy scheduling. Editors should note that the scale name is always capitalised and that the specific instrument used must be named in full on first reference. Results are typically expressed as a numerical score accompanied by a descriptor band (e.g., mild, moderate, severe). Confusing one named scale for another is a common editorial error in multidisciplinary progress notes.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify which agitation scale is being referenced; 'Agitation Scale' alone is ambiguous. Capitalise the full instrument name; do not abbreviate without prior expansion.
In Context
- "The patient's Pittsburgh Agitation Scale score decreased from 12 to 4 following adjustment of the evening therapy schedule." — Inpatient rehabilitation progress note
- "Staff are asked to complete the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory at each shift handover to track behavioural trends." — Nursing care plan