DELIRIUM

Course overview

DELIRIUM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ACUTE CONFUSIONAL STATE, IS A CLINICAL SYNDROME THAT USUALLY DEVELOPS IN THE ELDERLY. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN ALTERATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND COGNITION WITH REDUCED ABILITY TO FOCUS, SUSTAIN, OR SHIFT ATTENTION. IT DEVELOPS OVER A SHORT PERIOD AND FLUCTUATES DURING THE DAY. THE CLINICAL PRESENTATION CAN VARY, BUT USUALLY, IT FLOURISHES WITH PSYCHOMOTOR BEHAVIORAL DISTURBANCES SUCH AS HYPERACTIVITY OR HYPOACTIVITY WITH INCREASED SYMPATHETIC ACTIVITY AND IMPAIRMENT IN SLEEP DURATION AND ARCHITECTURE. IT IS CAUSED BY A MEDICAL CONDITION, SUBSTANCE INTOXICATION, OR WITHDRAWAL IN ADDITION TO THE MEDICATION SIDE EFFECT, AS WELL AS; IT IS NO BETTER EXPLAINED BY ANOTHER PREEXISTING, INVOLVING, OR ESTABLISHED NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDER. THE DIAGNOSIS IS OFTEN MISSED, ESPECIALLY IN HYPOACTIVE TYPE BECAUSE OF THE POOR CLINICAL MANIFESTATION. EFFORTS SHOULD FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DELIRIUM AND THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM MEMBERS IN COLLABORATING TO PROVIDE WELL-COORDINATED CARE AND ENHANCE PATIENT OUTCOMES.