title: Atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of delirium.
abstract: The aim of this study was to review the efficacy and safety of atypical antipsychotics, comparing within class, placebo, or compared to another active treatment for delirium. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane database (1 January 1990-5 November 2012). Selection criteria for review were prospective, controlled studies (comparison studies), using validated delirium rating scales as outcome measures. A total of six prospective, randomized controlled studies were included in the review. It was found that atypical antipsychotics are effective and safe in treating delirium, even though there seemed to be no difference between each agent. In particular, comparison studies with haloperidol showed that the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics was similar to that of low-dose haloperidol. It was concluded that atypical antipsychotics appear to be effective and tolerable in the management of delirium, even though the evidence is limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Ryung
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Young Sup
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Won-Myong
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Bahk
mesh_terms: D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003693:Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D010879:Piperazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; C092292:ziprasidone; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine
keywords: atypical antipsychotic; delirium; efficacy; safety; treatment