RT Book, Section A1 Duffy, James D. A1 Valentine, Alan D. A2 Duffy, James D. A2 Valentine, Alan D. SR Print(0) ID 1125785278 T1 Delirium T2 MD Anderson Manual of Psychosocial Oncology YR 2016 FD 2016 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071624381 LK hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1125785278 RD 2024/03/29 AB Every clinician should be able to recognize delirium. As the most common behavioral complication of cancer treatment, delirium is often a harbinger of a serious medical disorder and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and increased length and cost of hospital stay.1,2,3,4,5 In addition to its physical implications, delirium typically is a terrifying experience that has a lasting psychological impact on patients and their families. The experience of delirium is remembered by the majority of patients and may result in long-term psychological morbidity for patients and their families.6 Delirium interferes with the patient's ability to communicate and hinders the clinician's attempts to evaluate physical symptoms and to perform a detailed physical examination. Delirious patients are more likely to have an accidental fall or other injury during their hospital stay.7 A diagnosis of delirium is a predictor of longer hospital stay and is also associated with more difficulty in identifying posthospital placement options for the patient.