Despite its high prevalence and association with increased morbidity, mortality and health services utilization, delirium is often under-recognized and under-treated in general hospitals.

We report our experience of consultation in the treatment of medical patients with delirium in a General Hospital.

During the last 12 months our department has accepted 93 requests for consultation with patients diagnosed as having delirium, which represents a percentage of 9,59% of the total requests for psychiatric assessment. The mean duration of the symptoms was 2 days prior to the request for consultation. The main symptoms that were reported were agitation and delusions even when other important symptoms such as disorientation and insomnia co-existed. Medication had already been administered by the physicians in 63,44 % of cases (in 69,49% haloperidol and in 30,51% a benzodiazepine had been administered). No preventive interventions had been made even in patients at high risk. It is noteworthy that 9,67 % were physically restrained before consultation. Laboratory tests for the investigation of the disorder were performed only in 12,9 % . The duration of hospitalization was prolonged from 3 to 8 days because of the delirium.

Although delirium is a common condition in patients admitted to General Hospitals, preventive interventions are lacking, the diagnosis is often delayed and the treatment is inadequate. The role of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrists is not only to treat the patients’ delirium but also to inform and educate the physicians and the hospital stuff of other disciplines about the management of the syndrome.