• Judith S L Partridge, Finbarr C Martin, Danielle Harari, and Jugdeep K Dhesi.
• Division of Health and Social Care Research, Kings College London, London, UK. judith.partridge@gstt.nhs.uk
• Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013 Aug 1; 28 (8): 804-12.

BackgroundDelirium is a common clinical syndrome with significant associated mortality, morbidity and financial cost. Less is understood about the experience of delirium for the patient, their family and staff involved in their care.ObjectiveThis synthesis draws on qualitative and quantitative literature examining different populations (patients, relatives and staff) in different clinical settings (intensive care units, surgery and hospice care) to provide a clinical summary of the delirium experience from the perspective of patients, relatives and staff.DesignA literature search was conducted in Ovid, MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, British Nursing Index and Archive and PubMed between 1980 and 2011 using the terms 'delirium' combined with 'distress', 'recall', 'anxiety', 'depression', 'PTSD', 'experience' and 'patient education'. Articles were restricted to English language only.ResultsEvidence suggests that some patients recall delirium and that recollections are generally distressing. Distress may be greater in relatives witnessing delirium and is also reported in professional staff. This distress may result in longer-term psychological sequelae. Remedial action, such as explanatory information to patients and their families, may reduce distress and psychological morbidity.ConclusionsA better understanding of the experience and psychological consequences of delirium will inform the development of appropriate methods of providing support and information to those at risk of delirium and their families or carers.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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