Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 3
Despite its complexity, the brain really only displays its dysfunction in a small number of
ways. There are basically three toxic syndromes that affect the central nervous system.
This includes CNS depression (sedation), CNS excitation (seizure) and possibly altered
thoughts, as with hallucinations.
The objectives for today’s presentation include:
o Review of the unique clinical effects of toxins that result in sedation syndromes
o
o
List examples of agents of opportunity for each syndrome
Describe the initial treatment strategy for each category of agent
A syndrome refers to a constellation or grouping of signs and symptoms. A toxic
syndrome refers to the signs and symptoms associated with exposure to a specific toxin
or chemical. There are several different types of toxic syndromes. The three toxic
syndromes which are most commonly seen are those that cause sedation or sleepiness,
convulsion which are often referred to as seizures and hallucinations, which are
distortions of reality. It is important to recognize that convulsions is an extreme
manifestation of overstimulation, which is the opposite of sedation. People who have
hallucinations may be awake and even alert but are not thinking clearly. A patient with
hallucinations is often neither sedated nor agitated but they are clearly altered.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 71