Delirium is Often not Recognised
Studies consistently show that the MINORITY of delirium cases are diagnosed. True cases are either:
- Missed altogether (in 30-60% of cases) OR
- Misdiagnosed as dementia (in up to 25% of cases) OR
- Misdiagnosed as a functional mental illness (in up to 25% of cases)
*Inouye et al. Delirium in hospitalised older patients. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1998, 11:118-25
*Johnson, J. C et al (1992) Prospective versus retrospective methods of identifying patients with delirium. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 40, 316–319