An Overview of Delirium in the Community Setting

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric complications in the Palliative Care setting. Despite being a severe neurological dysfunction, there are few studies describing its management in the community. Our objective was to review the existing evidence supporting best approaches to delirium in the community setting, considering the Portuguese context.
METHODS: Literature review using the following MeSH terms: “delirium”, “palliative care”, “domiciliary care”, “general practitioners”, “general physicians”, “primary care”, “Portugal” and “end of life”.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Delirium is usually multifactorial, impacting healthcare professionals, caregivers and, above all, patients. There is insufficient evidence concerning treatment of the condition, and available literature mostly concerns the hospital setting. In the Palliative Care setting, it is important that the patient, the family, and the environment are considered in order to assure early diagnosis and management of delirium by the family doctor.