title: [Acute confusional state in the elderly].
abstract: Delirium is common and associated with important adverse consequences in elderly persons. It is an acute syndrome characterized by the rapid onset of cognitive and attention impairment, with a fluctuating course. In most cases, the etiology is multifactorial, combining predisposing and precipitating factors. Delirium management combines specific treatments of precipitating factors with the symptomatic treatment of delirium manifestations, based on nonpharmacologic as well as pharmacologic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Division de gériatrie et Réadaptation gériatrique-CUTR Sylvana, Département de médecine interne, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rochat
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Büla
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D003221:Confusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans