Distress due to delirium experience

Background: Very few studies have evaluated the level of distress due to the experience of delirium in patients who have recovered from delirium. Methodology: Fifty-three patients were rated on Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 at baseline and were again evaluated on Delirium Experience Questionnaire after recovery for level of distress due to the experience of delirium. Results: The mean age of patients was 45.58 (S.D. 19.06) years. Only 15 patients (28.3%) remembered themselves to be confused and rest had no recollection of the same. Those who could remember their experience had moderate (n = 4; 26.7%), severe (n = 6; 40.0%) and very severe (n = 5; 33.3%) level of distress. Of those who could not remember their delirium experience, most of them had moderate (n = 17; 44.7%) to severe (n = 10; 26.3%) distress. Those who remembered their experience in general described it as a state of fearfulness (n = 8), anxiety (n = 4) confusion and feeling strange (n = 7). Other experiences which were recollected were those of visual hallucinations and illusions. Conclusion: Overall experience of delirium is distressing for the patients. Most of the patients (those who remembered or who were not able to remember) experienced at least moderate level of distress. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.