• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2018

Objectives : The significance of leukoaraiosis on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is uncertain, but it is often seen with vascular risk factors or in the context of cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate the effect of leukoaraiosis on the severity and course of delirium. Methods : Periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity on brain MRI were rated in 42 patients with delirium by semiquantative visual rating scale. Correlations between their grades and the scores of Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (K-DRS-R-98) were analyzed, and the interaction effects between the groups according to the levels of leukoaraiosis and two evaluation points were also analyzed. Results : The grade of deep white matter hyperintensity in the occipital lobe was positively correlated with the scores on the total, severity items, cognitive items, and non-cognitive items of K-DRS-R-98. The cognitive items scores of K-DRS-R-98 in the low grade group of periventricular hyperintensity showed significantly steeper decrease than the high grade group. Conclusions : A difference in severity or recovery speed of delirium according to the level of leukoaraiosis may result from disruption in brain functional connectivity. Our results have a clinical implication in that the severity and course of delirium can be possibly predicted using the level of leukoaraiosis.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2005

Objectives: This prospective and open-label study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of quetiapine and haloperidol in patients with delirium. Methods : Fourty patients(19 patients in a quetiapine group : 21 patients in a haloperidol group) with delirium by DSM-IV were treated with flexible doses of open-label qvetiapine and haloperidol. To evaluate the primary efficacy of the medication, scores from the Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale(K-DRS) were assessed every seven days and to evaluate the secondary efficacy and safety, scores from the Clinical Global Impression-Severity, Korean Version of Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale were assessed at the baseline and the seventh day. Data were gathered from November 2004 to June 2005. Results : K-DRS scores for each group decreased significantly over the study period; however, no significant differences between groups were found. The group-by-time effect was not significant. In addition, there was no significant difference in the frequency of response to drugs between the two groups. No patients reported clinically significant side effects. Conclusion : These data show no significant difference in the efficacy and safety between quetiapine and haloperidol in the treatment of delirium. Since haloperidol has a great possibility of causing a extrapyramidal side effect resulted by previous studies, it is expected that quetiapine, a renowned medication with low side effects, may be a useful alternative agent to haloperidol, the classical antipsy-chotics, in the treatment of delirium.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2015

Objectives : This study developed and validated the Perceived Stigma of Delirium Scale(PSDS), which is designed to measure perceived stigma associated with delirium in patients suffering from that disorder. Methods : Based on a literature review of scales assessing stigma, a preliminary scale comprising seven items was developed. After recovering from delirium, 128 patients completed the PSDS and the Distress Thermometer (DT). Factor analysis was used to examine construct validity, and internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined to ensure reliability. Concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation between the total scores on the PSDS and the DT. Results : Factor analysis yielded a single-factor structure from the seven candidate items. One item was excluded due to low factor loading. The internal consistency was computed and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ was 0.85 for the total score. The overall test-retest reliability was 0.71, with items ranging from 0.58 to 0.83. The total score on the PSDS was significantly correlated with the DT score. Conclusions : The PSDS may be a reliable, valid instrument for evaluating perceived stigma in patients who have recovered from delirium. Further study of the perceived stigma by delirium patients is required to assess the implications of the PSDS for clinical practice and research.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 2019

Objectives : It is not clear which clinical variables are most closely associated with delirium in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). By comparing clinical data of ICU delirium and non-delirium patients, we sought to identify variables that most effectively differentiate delirium from non-delirium. Methods : Medical records of 6,386 ICU patients were reviewed. Random Subset Feature Selection and Principal Component Analysis were utilized to select a set of clinical variables with the highest discriminatory capacity. Statistical analyses were employed to determine the separation capacity of two models-one using just the selected few clinical variables and the other using all clinical variables associated with delirium. Results : There was a significant difference between delirium and non-delirium individuals across 32 clinical variables. Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), urinary catheterization, vascular catheterization, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Blood urea nitrogen, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Examination II most effectively differentiated delirium from non-delirium. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, with the exception of vascular catheterization, these clinical variables were independent risk factors associated with delirium. Separation capacity of the logistic regression model using just 6 clinical variables was measured with Receiver Operating Characteristic curve, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.818. Same analyses were performed using all 32 clinical variables;the AUC was 0.881, denoting a very high separation capacity. Conclusions : The six aforementioned variables most effectively separate delirium from non-delirium. This highlights the importance of close monitoring of patients who received invasive medical procedures and were rated with very low RASS and HAM-A scores.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of antipsychotic medication prescription for the symptom control in patients with delirium. Methods : One hundred and eighty-five patients referred to consultation-liaison psychiatric services for delirium due to general medical condition were included in this study. All subjects were divided into two groups (antipsychotics users vs. antipsychotics nonusers), and comparison analyses on their clinical characteristics were performed. Results : One hundred and twenty nine patients (66.5%) used antipsychotics for their delirium, and 56 patients (30.3%) did not use antipsychotics. The history of psychotropic medication was more frequently observed in antipsychotic users (5.4% vs. 18.6%, χ²=5.498, p=0.022). Especially, the history of benzodiazepine use was significantly high in antipsychotics users. The total score and sub-items of delirium rating scale-severity items except for the psychomotor retardation item showed higher scores in antipsychotic users than in nonusers (all p<0.05). The total score of the delirium rating scale-diagnosis items was higher in antipsychotic users than in the nonusers (p=0.010). Conclusions : Delirium patients with more severe delirium symptoms and with more history of benzodiazepine use were treated with antipsychotics more frequently than those without. These findings imply that benzodiazepine may not only exacerbate delirium but be associated with aggression or psychomotor agitation that need immediate intervention. Clinicians may need to pay attention not only these external symptoms but also to hypoactive symptoms that may lead to misdiagnosis and undertreatment.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2015

Objectives : To investigate clinical and symptomatic differences among motoric subtypes of delirium. Methods : A total of 256 patients referred to psychiatric consultation services for delirium due to general medical condition were assessed retrospectively. Motoric subtypes were determined according to Lipowski's criteria for hyperactive, hypoactive and mixed subtypes. All patients were evaluated according to Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98(DRS-98-R) by trained psychiatrists to obtain symptomatic profiles of delirium. Results : Hyperactive subtype were 50.8%(n=130), mixed 46.1%(n=118) and hypoactive 3.1%(n=8). Hyperactive patients were younger than mixed subtype($69.62{\pm}13.976$ vs. $73.97{\pm}11.569$, p=0.022) and received antipsychotics to manage symptoms of delirium more frequently(83.8% vs. 57.6%, p<0.001). Hyperactive patients had higher DRS-R-98 scores on both noncognitive($7.14{\pm}3.543$ for hyperactive, $5.62{\pm}3.279$ for mixed subtype) and cognitive subscales($10.00{\pm}3.574$ for hyperactive, $6.38{\pm}2.875$ for hypoactive, $7.43{\pm}3.771$ for mixed subtype, p<0.001). Conclusions : We demonstrated that clinical and symptomatic profiles were different across motoric subtypes in delirium. Diagnostic and therapeutic approach should be made differently according to motoric subtypes of delirium and special attention is needed not to underestimate or delay treatment in specific motoric subtype of delirium.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2018

Objectives : Delirium is one of the most common mental illnesses that can affect cognitive function. Melatonin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of insomnia, and recent studies have shown a protective effect to prevent delirium. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of melatonin in delirium patients. Methods : All patients were referred to psychiatric department for insomnia and symptoms of delirium, and were diagnosed delirium by the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. We compared base line severity of delirium with K-DRS-R-98-R (Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale revised 98) and after taking 2mg of melatonin, retrospectively. The side effects were also identified by referring to the medical records. Results : A total 21 patients had taken melatonin for insomnia and delirious symptoms. The K-DRS-R-98 scores were decreased from $15.24{\pm}2.64$ before treatment to $6.57{\pm}5.42$ after treatment. And CGI-S scores were also decreased from $4.14{\pm}0.48$ before treatment to $2.81{\pm}0.93$ after treatment (p<0.05). Conclusions : This study illustrates the possibility of melatonin as an effective treatment option for delirious symptoms such as disorientation, motor agitation, lability of affect and hallucinations as well as insomnia, with less concerns of drug side effect. Further study with a larger sample and prospective design will be required to confirm these results.