Delirium for healthcare professionals
Is delirium the same as dementia?
Delirium is different from dementia. Delirium comes on quickly, and usually lasts for a small number of days (in 20% the duration is longer). Dementia develops slowly (months) and mostly cannot be reversed. People with delirium are more often drowsy and/or psychotic. |
If it can be reversed, what is the big deal?
Even a brief delirium increases the risk of poor recovery from illness, nursing home placement, and possibly dementia and death. Delirium can be stressful for patients with frightening beliefs like thinking they are in prison and in danger. Families and caregivers are distressed by delirium as well. |
What can I do about delirium?
Detect it and call it delirium. Treat acute causes promptly. Optimise physiology. Detect and treat distress. Correct sensory impairments. Mobilize the patient. Provide a calm environment. Promote natural sleep. Communicate the diagnosis to patients and their families. Delirium can partly be prevented by optimization of physiology (e.g. avoiding dehydration), orientation, rapid treatment of acute illness, correcting sensory impairments, promoting natural sleep |