Table 2.
Symptoms of delirium reported by nurses and psychiatrists (N = 29 patients)
| Symptom | Occurrence (%) | In SOS | Major delirium symptoms DSM-IVa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agitation | 25 (86.2) | × | |
| Irritable | |||
| Pulls out lines, tubes, or catheters | |||
| Fidgety, restless, or jittery | |||
| Hallucinations (visual or auditory) | 22 (75.8) | × | × (crit. B) |
| Anxiety | 18 (71.4) | × | |
| Motor disturbance | 19 (65.5) | × | |
| Increased muscle tension (e.g., muscle cramp) | 3 (10.3) | × | |
| Grimacing | 2 (6.9) | × | |
| Tremors (e.g., shivery) | 5 (17.2) | × | |
| Decreased or varying consciousness | 16 (55.2) | × (crit. A) | |
| Confusion | 16 (55.2) | ||
| e.g., (trying to) get out of bed | |||
| Disorientation | 15 (51.7) | × (crit. B) | |
| Time | 8 (27.6) | ||
| Place | 12 (41.4) | ||
| Person | 3 (10.3) | ||
| Sleep disturbance | 12 (41.3) | × | |
| Impaired or confused speech | 9 (31.0) | × | × (crit. B) |
| Seizures | 2 (6.9) | ||
| Pupil dilation | 2 (6.9) | ||
| Itching | 2 (6.9) | ||
| Disinhibition | 1 (3.4) | ||
| Forgetfulness/impaired memory | 1 (3.4) | × (crit. B) | |
| Hyperacusis | 1 (3.4) | ||
| Sweating | 1 (3.4) | × |
aNot documented: acute onset, fluctuations (crit. C). Fluctuations are reflected in varying scores on the extended SOS-Pediatric Delirium scale