[Delirium in a consultation liaison psychiatry unit of a general hospital].
BACKGROUND
Delirium is an organic mental disorder defined as a confusional state, attention deficit and disorganized thinking, with a fluctuating course and acute development. Underlying causes are numerous, but the most common are multiple medical problems and drug side effects.


METHODS
We present a descriptive and transversal study of 62 inpatients with delirium diagnosis (ICD-10 criteria) attended by a Liaison Psychiatric Department in a General Hospital during a year. The data included demographic, somatic and psychiatric variables.


RESULTS
The overall referral rate from the general hospital was 0.2%. No significant differences, were found in sex distribution. The age average was 64.46 years. The majority of patients were referred by Surgery (19.4%) and Medicine (17.7%). The most common medical diagnosis was cancer (25%) and respiratory failure (15.9%). Haloperidol was the most frequent psychiatric treatment. The greatest number of referred patients were included in the serious medical state and the 23.9% of patients with delirium diagnosis deceased.


CONCLUSIONS
Data supports the statement that delirium is most often found in hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of cancer and respiratory failure, and that this diagnosis is associated with mortality in a high proportion. Furthermore, this study suggest an increase in cost-containment since the average stay are increased in comparison with the rest of hospitalized patients.
Navinés
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Unidad de Psiquiatría de Enlace. Instituto de Psiquiatría y Psicología Médica. Hospital Clínic. Barcelona.
Gómez
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Franco
J G
JG
de Pablo
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J
D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation