Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-lpg2g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-15T09:28:09.600Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A psychoeducational intervention increases use of a delirium protocol by Neurologists and Neurosurgeons in patients with brain disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2020

S. Patel*
Affiliation:
Sligo/Leitrim Mental Health Services, Sligo, Ireland
C. Carey
Affiliation:
Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
D. Cotter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
K. C. Murphy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: C. Carey, Senior Registrar in Psychiatry, Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland. (Email: corneliacarey1@gmail.com)
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

Over 50% of inpatients with neurological disorders may present with a co-morbid psychiatric illness. Delirium has a reported point prevalence of 20% in hospital inpatients and is frequently undetected. We aimed to (1) examine inpatient referrals to a Liaison Neuropsychiatry service and (2) review the diagnosis and management of delirium before and after an educational intervention.

Methods:

An initial 6-month audit of referrals to the inpatient Liaison Neuropsychiatry service was conducted in 2018. We then undertook a psychoeducational intervention to raise awareness of the diagnosis and management of delirium. We conducted a re-audit of referrals to the service in 2019.

Results:

On initial audit, of 84 referrals, the most common referral was for mood (38%; n = 32). Just 4% (n = 3) had a specific delirium query. Following assessment by Neuropsychiatry, organic disorders (43%; n = 32), including delirium (33%; n = 25), were the most common diagnoses. On re-audit, of 86 referrals, mood assessment remained the most common reason for referral (38%; n = 33) and 2% (n = 2) were referred for possible delirium. Organic disorders remained the most common diagnoses (53%; n = 45) including delirium (38%; n = 32). We found a significant increase in the use of the delirium protocol from 12% (n = 3) on initial audit to 47% (n = 15); p < 0.01 on re-audit despite no increase in the number of specific delirium queries.

Conclusions:

A psychoeducational intervention improves the management of delirium by Neurologists and Neurosurgeons in patients with brain disorders.

Information

Type
Audit
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland
Figure 0

Fig. 1.Reason for referral (Please note that multiple terms were used in some referrals and have all been accounted for here).

Figure 1

Table 1.ICD-10 diagnoses following Neuropsychiatry assessment

Figure 2

Table 2.Number of psychiatric diagnoses per case

Figure 3

Fig. 2.Management plan following review by Neuropsychiatry.

Figure 4

Table 3.Delirium management prior to referral and subsequent diagnosis by Neuropsychiatry