The 3 Ds of Geriatric Psychiatry: Depression, Delirium, and Dementia

Topics: Apathy | Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) | Delirium | Dementia | Depression | Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) | MMSE | MOCA | SLUMS

Both common yet elusive, symptoms of depression, dementia, and delirium may overlap in older adults, proving a diagnostic challenge. Even more confounding, these three disorders—the 3 Ds—frequently present simultaneously (Downing LJ et al, Curr Psychiatry Rep 2013;15(6):365). This article will review key features to help distinguish between these di

Assessing and Treating Delirium in Older Adults

Topics: Altered Mental Status (AMS) | Confusion | Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) | Delirium | Dementia | Disorganization

Delirium is one of the most perplexing psychiatric findings in older adults. It is defined as a disturbance of attention and a change in cognition. Delirium can be a cause of altered mental status (AMS), which is a general term defined as a change in mental functioning affecting cognition, consciousness (from slight confusion to coma), or both. Delirium

Treating Agitation in ICU Patients with AUD?

Topics: Agitation | Alcohol use disorder | Delirium | Withdrawal

REVIEW OF: Vourc’h M et al, JAMA 2021;325(8):732–741 STUDY TYPE: Randomized clinical trial It’s known that people who drink unhealthy amounts of alcohol are more likely to get agitated if they’re admitted to the ICU. What to do about it is less well understood. In this study, researchers reasoned that mimicking some of alcohol’s effects

Suvorexant May Prevent Delirium in Hospitalized Patients

Topics: Delirium | Geriatric Psychiatry | Suvorexant

REVIEW OF: Hatta K et al, J Clin Psychiatry 2017;78(8):e970–e979; Hatta K et al, J Clin Psychiatry 2019;81(1):19m12865 Delirium is an acute confusional state that occurs frequently in older hospitalized patients, especially those with serious illness in the ICU. We try our best to prevent it because it is associated with worse medical outcomes, inc