Delirium Clinical Pathway, CICU, PICU, and PCU – Delirium Definition

Delirium Clinical Pathway — CICU, PICU, and PCU

Delirium Definition

  • Delirium is a disturbance in attention accompanied by reduced awareness of the environment with associated disturbance in cognition.
  • It represents an acute and often fluctuating change in mental status.
  • It is a diagnosis that is due to an underlying pathophysiological abnormality leading to an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain.
  • The underlying cause must be addressed before the delirium will resolve.

Reference

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders