Improving the outcomes of delirium in older hospital inpatients

Delirium is a cognitive disorder characterized by acute onset, fluctuating course and disturbances in consciousness, orientation, memory, thought, perception and behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). It occurs in hyperactive, hypoactive or mixed forms in up to 42% of older hospital inpatients (Siddiqi et al., 2006), many with pre-existing dementia (Fick et al., 2002).