Delirium in Older Adults: Practical Guide for Primary Health Services

Abstract

Delirium is a common and serious acute neuropsychiatric syndrome and is known to increase the risk for subsequent functional decline and mortality. The etiologies of delirium are diverse and multifactorial and often reflect the pathophysiological consequences of an acute medical illness, medical complication or drug intoxication. Delirium can have a widely variable presentation and is often missed and underdiagnosed as a result. At this chapter we discuss the prediction, etiology, prevention, diagnosis, subtypes and treatment (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) of delirium in the elderly population.