Delirium is a common mental disorder that has been associated with increased length of hospital stay and health costs, as well as higher morbidity and mortality rates in later life. To date, psychiatric interventions have mostly been limited to the clinical diagnosis of delirium and treatment of the behavioural and psychological complications of the acute episode, although this seems to have a negligible impact on the course and long-term outcome of patients. This paper reviews the development of recent strategies designed to reduce the incidence and complications of delirium, and proposes that an effective management plan must always include the basic components of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
Delirium; Confusional state; Therapeutics; Case management; Risk factors; Primary prevention