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Guideline

Delirium: prevention, diagnosis and management

Read time: 1 mins
Last updated:17th Jan 2023
Delirium: prevention, diagnosis and management in hospital and long-term care - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)


This guideline covers diagnosing and treating delirium in people aged 18 and over in hospital and in long-term residential care or a nursing home. It also covers identifying people at risk of developing delirium in these settings and preventing onset. It aims to improve diagnosis of delirium and reduce hospital stays and complications.

For advice on care for people with delirium related to alcohol use (delirium tremens) see the NICE guideline on alcohol-use disorders.

In January 2023, we reviewed the evidence and made new recommendations on assessing and diagnosing delirium.

Read full guideline