What is delirium?

Delirium is a syndrome, or associated group of symptoms involving a sudden change in mental state. It is not a disease, nor is it equivalent to dementia. Delirium mostly affects attention, while dementia generall impacts memory.

Symptoms

Hyperactive Delirium

- Restlessness and agitation
- Rapid mood changes
- Hallucinations
- Refusal to cooperate with care

Hypoactive Delirium

- Inactivity
- Reduced motor activity
- Sluggishness
- Abnormal drowsiness

Diagnosis

Doctors use a variety of diagnostic tools, including psycological exams, blood, urine, MRI, and other tests. One common assessement is the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), a standardized procedure that can be completed quickly and accurately by a trained professional. Learn more about the exam here, and read a review of its efficacy here.

Causes

There are no direct causes for delirium. Typically patients will undergo a long period of stress, and some external factor will "trigger" symptoms. Such factors include surgery, inflammation, drug use, hospitalization, infection, and more. Since the "trigger" is often difficult to identify and isolate, 41.8-64% of cases are misdianosed.

Risk Factors

Hospitalization and advanced age are the most significant risk factors for developing delirium. An estimated 10-30% of this population are affected.

Treatment

Non-pharmacologic interventions include placing familiar objects in the patient's room, helping them keep track of time with large calendars, and encouraging movement to help re-establish regular sleep habits.

Pharcologic interventions typically focus on addressing underlying "triggers" of delirium. These include prescribing antibiotics, supplemental vitamins, and other medications. Antipsychotic drugs may occasionally be prescribed to help patients with poor sleep.

Why the Delirium Symptom Center

Delirium is hard to identify and treat. It requires a full-time team to engage and support patient recovery. The goal of the Symptom Center is to make information about delirium more accessible and available. Additionally, by hosting tools like the patient symptom tracker, caregivers are better equipped to monitor the patients' delicate recovery process.

In the long term, by educating the public and supporting caregivers, the Delirium Symptom Center will ensure that our most vulnerable patients have access to the high-quality care they need. This will reduce mortality rates associated with the condition, as well as potential long-term impacts like cognitive impairment and dementia.