Journal of psychosomatic research
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Delirium is a common complication of acute illness in older people. Earlier and more reliable detection could be achieved by greater routine cognitive testing in older people. ⋯ Specialist delirium units have a place in leading and disseminating best practices. Health service regulators should consider monitoring delirium as an adverse health care outcome.
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Delirium is underrecognized clinically. Many tools have been developed to assist with the diagnosis of delirium, and they vary greatly in purpose, quality, and administration time. ⋯ Careful consideration of the needs of the two groups suggests that assessment instruments designed for nonexperts should be entirely objective, whereas those instruments developed for experts should include the full range of constructs associated with the syndrome. This conceptualization is explored in detail, and existing assessment instruments are considered briefly in light of this position.