Evidence mapPaperPMID 40686036Full record

SynthesisBrain and behavior2025

Medication Causes and Treatment of Delirium in Patients With and Without Dementia.

Anita Elaine Weidmann, Rut Matthíasdóttir, Guðný Björk Proppé, Ivana Tadić, Pétur Sigurdur Gunnarsson, Freyja Jónsdóttir

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Brain and behavior, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Anita Elaine WeidmannDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Innsbruck University, Institute of Pharmacy, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3670-2357
Rut MatthíasdóttirFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Guðný Björk ProppéFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Ivana TadićDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Innsbruck University, Institute of Pharmacy, Innsbruck, Austria.
Pétur Sigurdur GunnarssonFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Freyja JónsdóttirFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMedication associated with delirium in adult patients is poorly understood and considered both a predisposing and precipitating factor. Prescribing advice is lacking. This systematic review aims to collate evidence on medication risks in delirium associated with causation and treatment including mechanisms, treatment, and treatment alternatives in adult patients with and without dementia in an attempt to support prescribing decision-making and patient safety in healthcare practice.

methodsA literature review of CNIAHL, IPA, APA PsycArticles, PubMed, Cochrane Library, SAGE Education, Science Direct, SCOPUS, Web of Science Core Collection, National Grey Literature Collection, Google Scholar, Ovid, and Open Access Theses and Dissertations was performed from 2000 for articles published in English. Original, peer-reviewed studies, meta-analyses, systematic and narrative reviews, case reports, commentaries, editorials, and scientific communication focusing on medication-associated delirium risk in adult patients (≥ 18 years) were included. Title, abstract, and full-text screening were completed independently by two reviewers. CASP, MMAT, JBI, and the SANAR tool were used to assess reporting quality. The protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (ID: CRD42022366020).

resultsOut of 3867 papers identified, 106 were included. Information about 20 different drug classes was reported. Despite a respectable quality rating, medication detail provided often lacks specificity about mechanisms of action, individual risk, dosage instructions, symptoms, and avoidable drug-drug combinations. Details on underlying mechanisms, pharmacological treatment, combinations, therapeutic alternatives, and medication associated with delirium in dementia patients were extracted.

conclusionsThis summary offers the most detailed summary of medication-related information for delirium in patients with and without dementia to support prescribing decisions. While the detailed results can be used to support a multicomponent approach to delirium care, they also support the call for categorizing delirium into distinct etiological subgroups. The effect of medication on gut microbiome diversity and composition should be considered.

Indexed as

DeliriumDementiaHumansdeliriumdementiamedication therapy managementrisk evaluation and management

Identifiers

PMID40686036
PMCPMC12277658

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.