Is psychomotor agitation different from psychomotor retardation?

Yes: Psychomotor agitation refers to purposeless and restless activity. The person may need to pace around the room, even if he or she wants to rest or sit down. Psychomotor retardation refers to a generalized slowing of psychological and physical activity.

Opposites: Psychomotor refers to thoughts and actions; retard to inhibited, and agitated to excited.So the one means that one's thoughts and actions are inhibited, hence slowed down--it takes 30 seconds to answer, "what is your name"? The other means that ones thoughts and actions are rapid and agitated, "why are you asking me that?" [jumps up, irritated] "i can't stand being here" [sits down again]-in 3 secs.