Pharmacology 3rd Edition by Michael Adams , Carol Urban

Exercise 1

Suzette Anderson is a 19-year-old patient who has been admitted to the psychiatric unit with newly diagnosed schizophrenia. She is agitated and paces back and forth in the day room until she is called for dinner. She is heard muttering to herself, "I don't know why they put me here. They just don't want me to get my inheritance. Maybe it's because they know I'll leave them all when I get the money. I'll be real rich and can start a new life for myself." 5he demonstrates no overt threatening behavior toward any of the other patients or toward the staff. Her agitation escalates until she cannot calm herself down and will not listen to staff. She begins hitting her fist into the wall and shouting. There is an order for haloperidol (Haldol), 4 mg IM every 1 to 4 hours prn for agitation.
What is the main use of haloperidol (Haldol) in this situation?