Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Pharmacological Management of Delirium in Hospitalized Adults – A Systematic Evidence Review

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of General Internal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Despite the significant burden of delirium among hospitalized adults, there is no approved pharmacologic intervention for delirium. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of pharmacologic interventions targeting either prevention or management of delirium.

DATA SOURCES

We searched Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) information systems from January 1966 to October 2008. We included randomized, controlled trials comparing pharmacologic compounds either to each other or placebo. We excluded non-comparison trials, studies with patients aged < 18 years, a history of an Axis I psychiatric disorder, and patients with alcohol-related delirium.

REVIEW METHODS

Three reviewers independently extracted the data for participants, interventions and outcome measures, and critically appraised each study using the JADAD scale.

RESULTS

We identified 13 studies that met our inclusion criteria and evaluated 15 compounds: second-generation antipsychotics, first-generation antipsychotics, cholinergic enhancers, an antiepileptic agent, an inhaled anesthetic, injectable sedatives, and a benzodiazepine. Four trials evaluated delirium treatment and suggested no differences in efficacy or safety among the evaluated treatment methods (first and second generation antipsychotics). Neither cholinesterase inhibitors nor procholinergic drugs were effective in preventing delirium. Multiple studies, however, suggest either shorter severity and duration, or prevention of delirium with the use of haloperidol, risperidone, gabapentin, or a mixture of sedatives in patients undergoing elective or emergent surgical procedures.

CONCLUSION

The existing limited data indicates no superiority for second-generation antipsychotics over haloperidol in managing delirium. Although preliminary results suggest delirium prevention may be accomplished through various mechanisms, further studies are necessary to prove effectiveness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Inouye SK, van Dyck CH, Alessi CA, Balkin S, Siegal AP, Horwitz RI. Clarifying confusion: the confusion assessment method. A new method for detection of delirium. Ann Intern Med. 1990; 113: 941–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. DeFrances CJ, Hall MJ. 2002 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics, 342. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Boustani M, Buttar A. Delirium in hospitalized older adults. Primary care geriatrics, a case-based approach. Editors: R Ham, P. Sloane, G. Warshaw. 5th Edition 2007, Chapter 15: 210–218.

  4. Trzepacz PT. The neuropathogenesis of delirium. A need to focus our research. Psychosomatics. 1994;35:374–91.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Trzepacz PT. Update on the neuropathogenesis of delirium. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 1999;10(5):330–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Trzepacz PT. Is there a final common neural pathway in delirium? Focus on acetylcholine and dopamine. Semin Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2000;5(2):125–31.

    Google Scholar 

  7. van der Mast RC. Delirium: the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and the need for clinical research. J Psychosomatic Res. 1996;41:109–13.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Flacker JM, Lipsitz LA. Neural mechanisms of delirium: current hypotheses and evolving concepts. Erratum appears in J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1999;54(7):B275.

    Google Scholar 

  9. van der Mast RC, Fekkes D. Serotonin and amino acids: partners in delirium pathophysiology? Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2000;5(2):125–31.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Inouye SK, Bogardus ST Jr, Charpentier PA, et al. A multicomponent intervention to prevent delirium in hospitalized older patients. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:669.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Han L, McCusker J, Cole M, et al. Use of medications with anticholinergic effect predicts clinical severity of delirium symptoms in older medical inpatients. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161(8):1099–105.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Marcantonio ER, Flacker JM, Wright RJ, Resnick NM. Reducing delirium after hip fracture: a randomized trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001;49:516–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Seitz DP, Gill SS, van Zyl LT. Antipsychotics in the treatment of delirium: a systematic review. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68(1):11–21.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lacasse H, Perreault MM, Williamson DR. Systematic review of antipsychotics for the treatment of hospital-asociated delirium in medically or surgically ill patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2006;40:1966–73.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, et al. Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials. 1996;17(1):1–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Breitbart W, Marotta R, Platt MM, Weisman H, Derevenco M, Grau C, Corbera K, Raymond S, Lund S, Jacobson P. A double-blind trial of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and lorazepam in the treatment of delirium in hospitalized AIDS patients. Am J Psychiatr. 1996;153(2):231–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Han, Chang-Su, Kim, Yong-Ku. A double-blind trial of risperidone and haloperidol for the treatment of delirium. Psychosomatics. 2004;45:297–301.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee KU, Won WY, Lee HK, Kweon YS, Lee CT, Pae CU, Bahk WM. Amisulpride versus quetiapine for the treatment of delirium: a randomized, open prospective study. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005;20(6):311–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Skrobik YK, Bergeron N, Dumont M, Gottfried SB. Olanzapine vs Haloperidol: Treating delirium in a critical care setting. Intensive Care Med. 2004;30:444–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Liptzin B, Laki A, Garb JL, Fingeroth R, Krushell R. Donepezil in the prevention and treatment of post surgical delirium. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;13:1100–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Sampson EL, Raven PR, Ndhlovu PN, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept) for reducing the incidence of postoperative delirium after elective total hip replacement. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;22:343–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kalisvaart KJ, de Jonghe JF, Bogaards MJ, Vreeswijk R, Egberts TC, Burger BJ, Eikelenboom P. Haloperidol prophylaxis for elderly hip-surgery patients at risk for delirium: a randomized placebo-controlled study. J Am Ger Soc. 2005;53(10):1658–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Diaz V, Rodriguez J, Barrientos P, Serra M, Salina H, et al. Utilizacion de procolinergicos en la prevencion del delirio postoperatorio del adulto mayor sometido a cirugia de fractura de cadera. Ensayo clinico controlado (Use of citicoline in the prevention of delirium in hip fracture surgery in elderly. A randomized controlled trial. Rev Neurol. 2001;33:716–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Pandharipande PP, Pun BT, Herr DL, et al. Effect of sedation with dexmedetomidine vs. lorazepam on acute brain dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients: the MENDS randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2007;298(22):2644–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Aizawa K-I, Kanai T, Saikawa Y, Takabayashi T, Kawano Y, Miyazawa N, Yamamoto T. A novel approach to the prevention of postoperative delirium in the elderly after gastrointestinal surgery. Surg Today. 2002;32:310–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Prakanrattana U, Prapaitrakool S. Efficacy of risperidone for prevention of postoperative delirium in cardiac surgery. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007;35(5):714–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Leung JM, Sands LP, Rico M, Petersen KL, Rowbotham MC, Dahl JB, Ames C, Chou D, Weinstein P. Pilot clinical trial of gabapentin to decrease postoperative delirium in older patients. Neurology. 2006;67(7):1251–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Leung JM, Sands LP, Vaurio LE, Wang Y. Nitrous oxide does not change the incidence of postoperative delirium or cognitive decline in elderly surgical patients. Br J Anaesth. 2006;96:754–760.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. American Psychiatric Association. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with delirium. Am J Psychiatry. 1999;156(5 suppl):1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Clinical practice guidelines for the sustained use of sedatives and analgesics in the critically ill adult. Crit Care Med. 2002;301:119–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Supported by Grant (K23 AG 26770–01) from the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Atlantic Philanthropies, the Starr Foundation, and the National Institute on Aging.

Conflict(s) of interest

None disclosed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Wishard Health Services, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Noll Campbell PharmD, BCPP, CGP, FASCP & Oscar Guzman PharmD, BCPS

  2. Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Malaz A. Boustani MD, MPH, Amir Ayub MD & Stephanie L. Munger BS

  3. Regenstrief Institute, Inc., 410 West 10th Street, Suite 2000, Indianapolis, IN, 46202–3012, USA

    Malaz A. Boustani MD, MPH, Amir Ayub MD & Stephanie L. Munger BS

  4. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Malaz A. Boustani MD, MPH & Mark Farber MD

  5. Kent Institute of Medicine, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

    George C. Fox MRCPsych, Mmedsci

  6. College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Carol Ott PharmD, BCPP

  7. Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Adetayo Ademuyiwa MD & Ranjeet Singh MD

Authors
  1. Noll Campbell PharmD, BCPP, CGP, FASCP
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Malaz A. Boustani MD, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amir Ayub MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. George C. Fox MRCPsych, Mmedsci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stephanie L. Munger BS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carol Ott PharmD, BCPP
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Oscar Guzman PharmD, BCPS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Mark Farber MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Adetayo Ademuyiwa MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Ranjeet Singh MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Malaz A. Boustani MD, MPH.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Campbell, N., Boustani, M.A., Ayub, A. et al. Pharmacological Management of Delirium in Hospitalized Adults – A Systematic Evidence Review. J GEN INTERN MED 24, 848–853 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-0996-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-009-0996-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation