Delirium in the ICU: an overview

Delirium is common in ICU patients but often goes undetected. Different instruments have been designed to help in the identification of patients with delirium. Whether the implementation of these instruments leads to better outcomes is not fully established. Nonpharmacological approaches, such as physical and occupational therapy, decrease the duration of delirium and should be encouraged. Pharmacological treatment for delirium traditionally includes haloperidol. Second-generation antipsychotics have emerged as an alternative for the treatment of delirium, and they may have a better safety profile. However, to date the studies evaluating these medications have been limited by small sample size. More powered clinical trials are needed to establish the first-line pharmacological treatment for delirium....