The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Delirium: Updated Implications for Patient Care

Delirium occurs in a significant proportion of hospitalized and older patients, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates, lengthier hospitalizations, increased readmissions, higher health care costs, greater odds of persistent functional decline, and psychological distress for patients, their families, and clinicians. Given that the global population continues to age, the incidence of delirium is expected to rise. The recently updated American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Delirium includes 15 statements to help clinicians prevent delirium, improve its detection, and optimize treatment for delirium in adult patient populations. In this analysis and commentary, the authors review each of the guideline statements, providing context and discussion of their clinical implications.