OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on delirium and refeeding syndrome in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and present case examples in an attempt to identify common clinical features and response to therapy. METHOD: A comprehensive literature review was completed. In addition to the cases identified in the literature, we present two additional cases of our own. RESULTS: We identified a total of 10 cases (all female; mean age 19 years old, range 12-29 years); 2/3 of the cases had similar clinical features predating the delirium and during refeeding. DISCUSSION: Delirium, albeit rare, can be associated with the refeeding syndrome in low weight patients with AN. During the initial refeeding phase, close monitoring of medical, metabolic, and psychological parameters are important in establishing factors that may elevate risk. Early detection and treatment of delirium using nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic means are also important to help minimize the effects of this potentially deadly condition.
OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on delirium and refeeding syndrome in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and present case examples in an attempt to identify common clinical features and response to therapy. METHOD: A comprehensive literature review was completed. In addition to the cases identified in the literature, we present two additional cases of our own. RESULTS: We identified a total of 10 cases (all female; mean age 19 years old, range 12-29 years); 2/3 of the cases had similar clinical features predating the delirium and during refeeding. DISCUSSION: Delirium, albeit rare, can be associated with the refeeding syndrome in low weightpatients with AN. During the initial refeeding phase, close monitoring of medical, metabolic, and psychological parameters are important in establishing factors that may elevate risk. Early detection and treatment of delirium using nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic means are also important to help minimize the effects of this potentially deadly condition.
Authors: Andrea K Garber; Jing Cheng; Erin C Accurso; Sally H Adams; Sara M Buckelew; Cynthia J Kapphahn; Anna Kreiter; Daniel Le Grange; Vanessa I Machen; Anna-Barbara Moscicki; Allyson Sy; Leslie Wilson; Neville H Golden Journal: JAMA Pediatr Date: 2021-01-01 Impact factor: 16.193
Authors: Sarah E Strandjord; Erin H Sieke; Miranda Richmond; Arjun Khadilkar; Ellen S Rome Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2015-11-23 Impact factor: 4.652
Authors: Andrea K Garber; Susan M Sawyer; Neville H Golden; Angela S Guarda; Debra K Katzman; Michael R Kohn; Daniel Le Grange; Sloane Madden; Melissa Whitelaw; Graham W Redgrave Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2015-12-12 Impact factor: 4.861