Drug-Induced Delirium: A Mini Review

Abstract

Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder that has detrimental futuristic complications, ranging from long-term cognitive impairment to death within several months, especially in the elderly and critically ill patients. One of the key elements in delirium management is to assess, identify and control any associated risk factors. Elevated risk and incidence of delirium have been reported with the use of a number of drugs from various pharmacological classes. Different medical agents indicated for cardiovascular conditions, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, anesthesia, cancer chemotherapy, and other medical conditions, have been reported to precipitate delirium episodes. Therefore, cautious assessment and continuous monitoring of patients’ medical profiles may significantly reduce the risk of delirium. This mini review aims to explore the recently published scientific evidence on drug-induced delirium; in addition, attempting to find reasonable relations between the drugs’ mode of action and delirium pathogenesis. Ultimately, providing medical experts with an update and a brief overview for the uprising scientists in the field.