DELIRIUM IN THE ELDERLY

Delirium is a common and serious medical condition in the elderly and is the focus of increasing attention because of its high rate of assoc iated morbidity and mortality and enormous impact on health care costs . Early recognition of the syndrome is essential, as is a thorough und erstanding of the role of medications as potential causes and as sympt omatic treatments. This article covers the epidemiology, clinical pres entation, etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and assessment, prognos is, and prevention of delirium.