Delirium Tremens in the Older Adult
Document Type
Article
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Caring for patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal syndrome can be challenging. Patients 65 and older are at increased risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome related complications. The higher prevalence of co-morbidities, including cognitive impairment, longer drinking history and greater sensitivity to alcohol withdrawal syndrome treatment are the result of decreased ability of the brain to adapt to stressors such as illness, trauma, or surgery. DELIRIUM TREMENS: Symptoms may appear earlier from the last drink and present with a wide range of symptoms. The most effective interventions require high-quality nursing care delivery to prevent, decrease the severity and shorten the duration of delirium. NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Strategies that help minimize these challenges starts with obtaining the patient's selfreport of their alcohol use history. Nurses should be diligent in their monitoring for signs of active alcohol withdrawal. Screening and assessment tools such as the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised should guide pharmacological management. To support nurses in identifying delirium tremens, this manuscript seek to describe the underlying pathophysiology, key assessment components and nursing management of delirium tremens in the older adult.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Publication Info
Published in The Journal of Neuroscience Nursing : Journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Volume 52, Issue 6, 2020, pages 316-321.
APA Citation
Mulkey, M. A., & Olson, D. M. (2020). Delirium Tremens in the Older Adult. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing,, 52(6), 316–321. https://doi.org/10.1097/JNN.0000000000000543
Rights
© 2020 American Association of Neuroscience Nurses