Does the Etiology, Phenomenology and Motor Subtype of Delirium Differ When It Occurs in Patients With An Underlying Dementia?: A Multi-Site, International Study.

Objectives: To compare the etiology, phenomenology and motor subtype of delirium in patients with and without an underlying dementia.

Methods: A combined dataset (n = 992) was collated from two databases of older adults (>65 years) from liaison psychiatry and palliative care populations in Ireland and India. Phenomenology and severity of delirium were analysed using the Delirium Symptom Rating Scale Revised (DRS-R98) and contributory etiologies for the delirium groups were ascertained using the Delirium Etiology Checklist (DEC).

Banging the drum: evolutionary and cultural origins of music and its implications for psychiatry.

There is growing interest in music-based therapies for mental/behavioural disorders. We begin by reviewing the evolutionary and cultural origins of music, proceeding then to discuss the principles of evolutionary psychiatry, itself a growing a field, and how it may apply to music. Finally we offer some implications for the role of music and music-based therapies in clinical practice.

Delusions and Hallucinations Are Associated With Greater Severity of Delirium.

Background: The 3 core domains of delirium (cognitive, higher level thinking, circadian) do not include the less common noncore psychotic symptoms. However, psychosis might inform about perturbations of neural circuitry, outcomes, or suggest tailored clinical management.

Objective: We assessed relationships between psychosis and other characteristics of delirium in patients without dementia or antipsychotics treatment.

Comparison of verbal and computerised months backwards tests in a hospitalized older population.

Background: Delirium is extremely prevalent, yet underdiagnosed, in older patients and is associated with prolonged length of hospital stay and higher mortality rates. Impaired attention is the cardinal deficit in delirium and is a required feature in diagnostic criteria. The verbal months backwards test (MBT) is the most sensitive bedside test of attention, however, hospital staff occasionally have difficulty with its administration and interpretation.

Towards understanding the nature and need of delirium guidelines across nations and cultures.

Background: Delirium is associated with a variety of adverse healthcare outcomes but is highly predictable, preventable and treatable. For this reason, numerous guidelines have been developed for delirium recognition, prevention and management across different countries and disciplines. Although research is adduced as evidence for these guidelines, a constant finding is the lack of implementation if they exist at all.