Practical Steps for Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Patients With Delirium
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Treat primary disease process
Many causes of delirium are reversible if identified and treated early, and thus it is important to screen for and address delirium when the patient presents to the ED.
See the previous lessons–Delirium and Delirium Prevention in the ED: An Overview, and Evaluation of the Older Patient with Delirium–for more details.
Implement NPIs
Maximize positive stimulation
- comfort
- mobility
- food/drink
- socialization
Minimize negative stimulation
- pain
- discomfort
- noise (alarms)
- disorientation
Key concept
Avoid other causes of delirium/Optimize the environment
References
Young J, et al. BMJ. 2007;334(7598):842–846.
Abbreviations
ED, emergency department
NPI, nonpharmacologic interventions