Delirium: issues in diagnosis and management

• Published in: Annals of African medicine Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 139 - 146
• Main Authors: Salawu, F K, Danburam, A, Ogualili, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.07.2009; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; Antipsychotic drugs; Care and treatment; Clinical medicine; Cognitive ability; Delirium; Delirium - classification; Delirium - diagnosis; Delirium - drug therapy; Dementia; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Health aspects; Humans; Mortality; Older people; Prevention; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotropic drugs; Risk Factors; Nigeria; Japan
• ISSN: 1596-3519; 0975-5764
• DOI: 10.4103/1596-3519.57235

Delirium is a disturbance of consciousness, cognition and perception that occurs frequently in medically ill patients. Although it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, it is often not recognized and treated by physicians. Literature searches were conducted using MEDLINE with the following keywords/ phrases: delirium, acute confusion and management. Additional articles identified by hand-searching in major journals of medicine and psychiatry, and a review of references cited within these sources supplemented the search. In this article, the available published literature regarding the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of delirium is systematically reviewed. Prevention and treatment strategies do not need to be complex or expensive but require well-coordinated interventions from multiple disciplines, including nursing, psychiatry, neurology and primary care, as well as the cooperation and significant effort of family and friends. Atypical antipsychotic agents offer some advantages over haloperidol and in a limited number of studies appear safe and effective for delirium.