This book provides a comprehensive scholarly and practical account of delirium that will be
of value for all doctors and nurses involved in the care of the elderly. It not only offers a
state of the art update on delirium covering its history epidemiology pathophysiology
assessment diagnosis causes prevention and management but also presents evidence-based and
practical information relevant to daily clinical routine. Owing to the complex multifactorial
causes of delirium different aspects of delirium in the elderly are discussed from a variety
of perspectives. The book closes by presenting a series of case vignettes delirium assessment
tools and screening scales and a list of those drugs highly associated with delirium. Delirium
is a cognitive disorder characterized by deficits in attention arousal consciousness memory
orientation perception speech and language. It is a common and serious problem among older
persons at every healthcare interface. Although it occurs in 10¿60% of the older hospitalized
population delirium remains a relatively misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition. This book
will be of interest to professionals working in geriatrics geriatric psychiatry general
psychiatry or neurology internists intensive care unit specialists and all who care for the
elderly in hospitals or the community.
