Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in Greece
Panagiota Goulia, Christos Mantas, Thomas HyphantisConsultation-Liaison Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GreeceBackground/aims: A plethora of studies showed that delirium is common in hospitalized populations. We aimed to examine the charac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2009-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of General Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://www.dovepress.com/delirium-a-lsquoconfusingrsquo-condition-in-general-hospitals-the-expe-a3632 |
| _version_ | 1818496616164753408 |
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| author | Panagiota Goulia Christos Mantas Thomas Hyphantis |
| author_facet | Panagiota Goulia Christos Mantas Thomas Hyphantis |
| author_sort | Panagiota Goulia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Panagiota Goulia, Christos Mantas, Thomas HyphantisConsultation-Liaison Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GreeceBackground/aims: A plethora of studies showed that delirium is common in hospitalized populations. We aimed to examine the characteristics of delirium patients referred to our Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit (CLPU).Methods: Our CLPU database was used to obtain data of all referred patients admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with delirium. All referred nondelirious patients served as controls. Results: During one year, 483 patients were referred to the CLPU. Ninety-three (19.3%) were diagnosed with delirium. Delirious patients were older than nondelirious patients (P < 0.001), with 76.3% aged over 70 years. The majority of the referrals came from surgical specialties. Common etiological factors were fluid and electrolyte imbalance (29%), fractures (28%) and infections (24%), but laboratory tests for the investigation of the etiology prior to the consultation had been performed in only 12 patients (12.9%). The syndrome resulted in prolonged hospitalization and greater use of CLPU services.Conclusions: Referrals for delirium are frequent in CLPUs in Greece. Although delirium is common, it remains a ‘confusing’ condition for health practitioners. The under-diagnosis of delirium, the prolonged hospitalization and the time that the CLPU dedicated to these patients underlines the role of the CLPU psychiatrists in the management of the syndrome.Keywords: delirium, general hospital, consultation–liaison psychiatry, referrals, Greece |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:35:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e965c690cfb2460ab631097b7aef7182 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-7074 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:35:04Z |
| publishDate | 2009-10-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of General Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-e965c690cfb2460ab631097b7aef71822022-12-22T01:37:50ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of General Medicine1178-70742009-10-012009default201207Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in GreecePanagiota GouliaChristos MantasThomas HyphantisPanagiota Goulia, Christos Mantas, Thomas HyphantisConsultation-Liaison Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GreeceBackground/aims: A plethora of studies showed that delirium is common in hospitalized populations. We aimed to examine the characteristics of delirium patients referred to our Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit (CLPU).Methods: Our CLPU database was used to obtain data of all referred patients admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with delirium. All referred nondelirious patients served as controls. Results: During one year, 483 patients were referred to the CLPU. Ninety-three (19.3%) were diagnosed with delirium. Delirious patients were older than nondelirious patients (P < 0.001), with 76.3% aged over 70 years. The majority of the referrals came from surgical specialties. Common etiological factors were fluid and electrolyte imbalance (29%), fractures (28%) and infections (24%), but laboratory tests for the investigation of the etiology prior to the consultation had been performed in only 12 patients (12.9%). The syndrome resulted in prolonged hospitalization and greater use of CLPU services.Conclusions: Referrals for delirium are frequent in CLPUs in Greece. Although delirium is common, it remains a ‘confusing’ condition for health practitioners. The under-diagnosis of delirium, the prolonged hospitalization and the time that the CLPU dedicated to these patients underlines the role of the CLPU psychiatrists in the management of the syndrome.Keywords: delirium, general hospital, consultation–liaison psychiatry, referrals, Greecehttp://www.dovepress.com/delirium-a-lsquoconfusingrsquo-condition-in-general-hospitals-the-expe-a3632 |
| spellingShingle | Panagiota Goulia Christos Mantas Thomas Hyphantis Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in Greece International Journal of General Medicine |
| title | Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in Greece |
| title_full | Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in Greece |
| title_fullStr | Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in Greece |
| title_short | Delirium, a ‘confusing’ condition in general hospitals: The experience of a Consultation–Liaison Psychiatry Unit in Greece |
| title_sort | delirium a amp lsquo confusing amp rsquo condition in general hospitals the experience of a consultation amp ndash liaison psychiatry unit in greece |
| url | http://www.dovepress.com/delirium-a-lsquoconfusingrsquo-condition-in-general-hospitals-the-expe-a3632 |
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