Delirium

 

Last updated December 2025

 

Facts for Families

AACAP's Facts for Families provides concise up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.

• Delirium in Children and Adolescents

Educational and Treatment Resources

• AACAP Delirium in Children and Adolescents Brochure
• When Your Child has Pediatric Delirium (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)
  English | Spanish

Rating Scales

• Canter MO, Tanguturi YC, Wilson E, et al. Prospective Validation of the Preschool Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (psCAM-ICU) to Screen for Delirium in Infants Less than 6 Months of Age. Critical Care Medicine, 2021.
• Smith HA, Boyd J, Fuchs DC, et al. Diagnosing delirium in critically ill children: Validity and reliability of the pediatric confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit. Crit Care Med 2011; 39:150–157
• Traube C, Silver G, Kearney J, et al: Cornell assessment of pediatric delirium: A valid, rapid, observational tool for screening delirium in the PICU*. Crit Care Med 2014; 42:656–663

Research, Training, Important Articles

• Network for Investigation of Delirium: Unifying Scientists (NIDUS) Pediatric Delirium Measurement Info Cards
• Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium Online Calculator
• Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship (CIBS) Center
  • Includes screening and assessment tools
  • Includes videos of infant with/ without delirium
    
    
• Clinical Pathway
  • Silver GH, Kearney JA, Bora S, et al. A Clinical Pathway to Standardize Care of Children with Delirium in Pediatric Inpatient Settings. Hosp Pediatr 2019; 9(11): 909-916
  • Smith HAB, Besunder JB, Betters KA, et al. 2022 Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines on Prevention and Management of Pain, Agitation, Neuromuscular Blockade, and Delirium in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients With Consideration of the ICU Environment and Early Mobility. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2022 Feb 1;23(2):e74-e110
    
    
• General Delirium Evaluation and Management
  • Malas N, Brahmbhatt K, McDermott C, et al. Pediatric Delirium: Evaluation, Management, and Special Considerations. Current Psychiatry Reports 2017; 19(65) 
  • Silver GH, Kearney JA, Bora S, et al. A Clinical Pathway to Standardize Care of Children with Delirium in Pediatric Inpatient Settings. Hosp Pediatrics 2019; 9(11): 909-916
  • Traube C, Silver G, Gerber LM, et al. Delirium and Mortality in Critically Ill Children: Epidemiology and Outcomes of Pediatric Delirium. Crit Care Med 2017; 45(5): 891-898
  • Capino AC, Thomas AN, Baylor S, et al. Antipsychotic Use in the Prevention and Treatment of Intensive Care Unit Delirium in Pediatric Patients. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2020: 25(2): 81-95
    
     
• Specific Delirium Evaluation, Management, and Risk Considerations
  • Smith HAB, Gangopadhyay M, Goben CM, et al. "Delirium and Benzodiazepines Associated Prolonged ICU Stay in Critically Ill Infants and Children." Crit Care Med 2017; 45(9): 1427-1435
  • Silver G, Traube C, Gerber LM, et al. Pediatric delirium and associated risk factors: a single-center prospective observational study. Pediatric Crit Care Med 2015; 16(4): 303-309 
  • Mason KP, Seth N. The pearls of pediatric sedation: polish the old and embrace the new. Minerva Anestesiol 2019; 85(10): 1105-1117
  • Patel RV, Redivo J, Nelliot A, et al. Early Mobilization in a PICU: A Qualitative Sustainability Analysis of PICU Up!. Pediatric Crit Care Med 2021; 22(4): e233-e242
  • Joyce C, Witcher R, Herrup E, et al. Evaluation of the Safety of Quetiapine in Treating Delirium in Critically Ill Children: A Retrospective Review. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2015; 25(9): 666-670
    
     

Books

Videos

Delirium - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment & pathology
Early Mobility Program at Johns Hopkins

Pediatric Delirium: Impact and Opportunities

 

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Related Websites

• Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship (CIBS) Center - this website provides information what to expect after the patient gets discharged from the intensive care unit.
• Coping with Stress Reactions after Injury or Illness - Health Care Toolbox

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