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Chapter 30 - Delirium and Other Medical Conditions Presenting with Psychiatric Symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2025

By
Silvia Hafliger
Edited by
Marsal Sanches  and
Jair C. Soares
Marsal Sanches
Affiliation:
McGovern Medical School, Texas
Jair C. Soares
Affiliation:
McGovern Medical School, Texas
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Summary

Delirium or acute brain dysfunction is the most common psychiatric condition. In the medical hospital. It is often not recognized and minimized by staff and predisposes patients to accelerated cognitive decline, depression, and PTSD. Treatment of the underlying medical conditions is essential. Keeping the patient safe and education of family members are equally important. There are no FDA approved medications to treat delirium, but Dexmedetomidine (alpha-2 agonist) has been beneficial in controlling agitation.

Keywords

deliriumdecreased brain reservealtered mental statuspolypharmacy
Type
Chapter
Information
Fundamentals of Clinical Psychiatry
A Practical Handbook
 , pp. 311 - 319
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

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