Authors' recommendations: The Canadian, British, and Swiss/French guidelines were in agreement regarding the need for early assessment of elderly hospitalized patients for delirium, as it is often unrecognized, misdiagnosed, or under-treated. There was consensus between the documents that physicians and nurses be trained to recognize delirium, and they should also be educated in the use of validated tools for screening and diagnosis. The guidelines suggest that the CAM tool could be used for screening and diagnosis, and that the diagnosis of delirium should be based on the DSM IV criteria.Generally there was consensus amongst the three guidelines about which components of the history, physical exam, and lab tests are important to affirm or exclude the diagnosis of delirium. The Canadian guidelines also concluded that further studies and stronger evidence are required to improve the diagnosis and management of delirium. Systematic use of evidence-based guidelines provides direction for healthcare providers in delirium assessment tools and tests, and should improve outcomes in this patient population.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/htis/L0045%20Diagnostic%20Tests%20for%20Delirium%20final.pdf

Year Published: 2008

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)