ArticleThe western journal of emergency medicine2023
Revisiting "Excited Delirium": Does the Diagnosis Reflect and Promote Racial Bias?
Article in The western journal of emergency medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Chemical restraint in custody: national trends, clinical outcomes, and policy implications (2022-2025).Health & justice · 2026Article
- Incidence and associated factors of emergency department visits for violent behaviour: a retrospective cohort study in Romagna, Italy.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Evolution Over Time of EMS Statewide Treatment Protocols on Prehospital Agitation in the United States.Prehospital emergency care · 2026Article
- Decision-making and acute behavioural disturbance (ABD): a qualitative thematic analysis of perspectives on decision-making by UK ambulance paramedics.BMC emergency medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introduction"Excited delirium" (ExD) is purported to represent a certain type of agitated state that can lead to unexpected death. The 2009 "White Paper Report on Excited Delirium Syndrome," authored by the American College of Emergency Medicine (ACEP) Excited Delirium Task Force, continues to play a pivotal role in defining ExD. Since that report was produced, there has been an increasing appreciation that the label has been applied more often to Black people.
methodsOur aim was to analyze the language of the 2009 report, the role of potential stereotypes, and the mechanisms that may potentially encourage bias.
resultsOur evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for ExD proposed in the 2009 report shows that it relies on persistent racial stereotypes: eg, unusual strength, decreased sensitivity to pain, and bizarre behavior. Research indicates that use of such stereotypes could encourage biased diagnosis and treatment.
conclusionWe suggest that the emergency medicine community avoid use of the concept ExD and that ACEP withdraw implicit or explicit support of the report.
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Registered trials
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