Terminal delirium misdiagnosed as major psychiatric disorder: Palliative care in a psychiatric inpatient unit.
Delirium is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by acute change in cognition and disturbance of consciousness. A similar state during the final days of life is termed "terminal delirium."



We present three cases with end-stage chronic medical problems without any significant psychiatric history who were admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit or a locked dementia unit for management of "depression," "dementia," or "psychosis."



Early diagnosis of terminal delirium helps prevent patients, family members, and staff from undergoing severe emotional distress and facilitates appropriate end-of-life care.
Department of Psychiatry,University of Texas Health Science Center,San Antonio,Texas.
Sabitha
S
Aligeti
Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital,South Texas Veterans Health Care System,San Antonio,Texas.
Muhammad R
MR
Baig
School of Medicine,University of Texas Health Science Center,San Antonio,Texas.
Fernando F
FF
Barrera
D000368:Aged; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology*; D003693:Delirium / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*
Delirium; Dementia; Depression; End-of-life care; Terminal delirium