Delirium affects many patients in hospital settings but is under-detected and associated with
a range of adverse health-care outcomes, including institutionalisation and elevated
mortality. Detection is essential because it leads to identification and management of
precipitants and assessment and management of distress caused by hallucinations and
delusions. Moreover, delirium may affect communication and, thus, assessment of pain. This
is important because inadequate analgesia may cause agitation and prolong the delirium …