Paper Title
Delirium in the Intensive Care Units
Abstract
Health complications among elderly inpatients are an increasing problem worldwide, resulting in a growing need
for the implementation of effective preventive strategies .One of the most common in-hospital complications is
delirium,which according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) is
defined as “an acute and fluctuating alteration of attention and awareness that is accompanied by a change in cognition that
cannot be better accounted for by a preexisting or evolving dementia, and is a direct consequence of some medical
condition” .The consequences of delirium place a considerable burden on both patients and medical staff because of
increased morbidity, higher mortality rates, incomplete functional cognitive recovery, prolonged hospitalization, and
increased costs of long-term treatment. So, the aim of this article is to review researches on delirium and suggest future
directions in research and clinical practice.In conclusion; more delirium guideline evaluation studies are needed to determine
their effect on clinical practice.
Keywords- delirium, intensive care unit, prevention