A randomized controlled trial of quetiapine versus placebo in the treatment of delirium.
BACKGROUND
Delirium is a commonly occurring complex neuropsychiatric disorder. Evidence for its treatment based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is poor.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy and acceptability of quetiapine in the treatment of delirium.


METHODS
A double-blind, RCT was conducted. A total of 42 patients were randomized to quetiapine or a placebo group. The primary outcome measure was the Delirium Rating Scale Revised 98. Other scales used were the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination and Clinical Global Improvement. In order to account for missing data, a nonlinear mixed-effects model was used to estimate the difference between the two groups.


RESULTS
The quetiapine group improved more rapidly than the placebo group. Specifically, the quetiapine group recovered 82.7% faster (S.E. 37.1%, P=.026) than the placebo group in terms of DRS-R-98 severity score. In terms of the DRS-R-98 noncognitive subscale, the quetiapine group improved 57.7% faster (S.E. 29.2%, P=.048) than the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Quetiapine has the potential to more quickly reduce the severity of noncognitive aspects of delirium. This study was underpowered for treatment comparisons at specific points in time but nonetheless detected significant differences when analyzing the whole study period. While it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions, further larger studies exploring the use of quetiapine in other delirium populations seem justified. Larger increments in the dose of quetiapine may yield even stronger results.
Department of Liaison Psychiatry, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK. tayyeb.tahir@wales.nhs.uk
Tayyeb A
TA
Tahir
Eamonn
E
Eeles
Venugopal
V
Karapareddy
Prem
P
Muthuvelu
Sian
S
Chapple
Bethan
B
Phillips
Toyin
T
Adyemo
Daniel
D
Farewell
Jonathan I
JI
Bisson
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003693:Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate