Table 7.

Research and Public Health Priorities for Delirium

Area	Research Priorities	Public Health Priorities
Recognition	Improve measurement for delirium: diagnosis, phenomenology, severity, and subtypes Develop cost-effective approach for delirium evaluation and work-up	Improve coding and reimbursement Educate clinicians and public about the importance and recognition of delirium
Epidemiology	Long-term follow-up studies of delirium to determine outcomes Patient experience: distress, post- traumatic stress disorder Genetic determinants of delirium risk Risk stratification to identify high risk	Assess the economic and societal costs of delirium Policy incentives to improve delirium recognition and management Address caregiver burden
Pathophysiology	Neuroimaging approaches ‘Deliriomics’ to identify biomarkers Animal models for delirium	Improve funding for delirium research overall Encourage interdisciplinary scientists to address the topic
Prevention and Treatment	Evaluate long-term effects of non- pharmacologic prevention strategies Trials of medication reduction: more prudent, individualized approaches to sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia Combined approaches to management, such as music, massage, exercise, cognitive rehabilitation, and sleep enhancement	Incentives for system-wide process and quality improvements in delirium detection, prevention and treatment Provider education: delirium prevention and management approaches Public education: avoid psychoactive drugs (including over-the-counter), limit alcohol use, encourage exercise, and enhance cognitive reserve