Delirium. Advances in diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment.

This article discusses research in the areas of morbidity and mortality, epidemiologic risk factors, phenomenology, pathophysiology, and treatment of delirium. Delirium assessment instruments are reviewed. The neuropathophysiologic understanding of delirium is discussed in the context of important CNS neural circuitry. Pharmacologic treatments of delirium in adults and children are outlined, with particular emphasis on intravenous use of butyrophenone neuroleptics.