Delirium Book Section
| Authors: | Breitbart, W. S.; Alici, Y. |
| Editors: | Holland, J. C.; Jacobsen, P. B.; Lederberg, M. S.; Loscalzo, M. J.; MccorKle, R. S. |
| Article/Chapter Title: | Delirium |
| Abstract: | (from the chapter) Delirium is a common and often serious neuropsychiatric complication in the management of cancer patients, characterized by an abrupt onset of disturbances of consciousness, attention, cognition, and perception that fluctuate over the course of the day. Delirium is a medical emergency that needs to be prevented, identified, and treated vigorously. Delirium is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, increased length of hospitalization, causing distress in patients, family members, and staff. Delirium is a sign of significant physiologic disturbance, usually involving multiple medical etiologies, including infection, organ failure, and medication adverse effects. Delirium can interfere with the recognition and control of other physical and psychological symptoms, such as pain. Unfortunately, delirium is often under-recognized or misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated or untreated in the medical setting. Clinicians who care for patients with cancer must be able to diagnose delirium accurately, undertake appropriate assessment of etiologies, and understand the benefits and the risks of the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions currently available for managing delirium. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved). |
| Keywords: | delirium; differential diagnosis; epidemiology; management; prevention; etiology; assessment |
| Book Title: | Psycho-Oncology. 2nd ed |
| ISBN: | 978-0-19-536743-0 |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| Publication Place: | Oxford, UK |
| Date Published: | 2010-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 332 |
| End Page: | 339 |
| Language: | English |
| PROVIDER: | Ovid Technologies |
| ACCESSION: | Book: 2010-06876-045 |
| PROVIDER: | psycinfo |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Book Chapter 45 -- "Source: PsycINFO" |
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