title: Intensive care unit delirium.
abstract: Once considered a benign iatrogenic consequence of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ICU delirium is now recognized as a prominent disorder that negatively affects patient morbidity and mortality. The primary goal in the detection and treatment of ICU delirium is to ensure the safety of the patient and caregiver(s). Most critically ill patients possess 1 or more risk factors for the development of delirium; therefore, interventions that target delirium assessment and prevention are essential. This article highlights some of the recent data that have emerged regarding ICU delirium, including its definition, incidence, risk factors, diagnostic tools, and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care/Nutrition Support, Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 377, Houston 77030-4009, TX, USA. jjbruno@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D008403:Mass Screening; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D006220:Haloperidol