Screening for Delirium, Dementia and Depression in Older Adults

Nursing Best Practice GuidelineAmerican College of Emergency Physicians (1999). Clinical policy for the initial approach topatients presenting with altered mental status. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 33(2), 251-280.American Psychiatric Association (1997). Practice guidelines for the treatment of patientswith Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias of late life. American Journal of Psychiatry,154(5), 1-39.American Psychiatric Association (1999). Practice guideline for the treatment of patients withdelirium. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(5), 1-20.Costa, P.T. Jr., Williams, T.F., Somerfield, M., et al. (1996). Recognition and initial assessmentof Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Clinical practice guideline No. 19. Rockville, MD:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency forHealthcare Policy and Research.17New Zealand Guidelines Group (1996). Guidelines for the treatment and management ofdepression by primary healthcare professionals. Ministry of Health Guidelines, New Zealand[On-line]. Available: http://www.nzgg.org.nz/library.cfmRapp, C. G. & The Iowa Veterans Affairs Nursing Research Consortium (1998). Research basedprotocol: Acute confusion/delirium. Iowa City: The University of Iowa Gerontological NursingInterventions Research Center, Research Development and Dissemination Core.Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (1998). Interventions in the management ofbehavioural and psychological aspects of dementia. Scottish Intercollegiate GuidelinesNetwork [On-line]. Available: http://www.show.nhs.uk/sign/home/htmA critique of systematic review articles and pertinent literature was conducted to update theexisting guidelines. Through a process of evidence gathering, synthesis and consensus, a draftset of recommendations was established. This draft document was submitted to a set of externalstakeholders for review and feedback – an acknowledgment of these reviewers is provided atthe front of this document. Stakeholders represented various healthcare professional groups,clients and families, as well as professional associations. External stakeholders were providedwith specific questions for comment, as well as the opportunity to give overall feedback andgeneral impressions. The results were compiled and reviewed by the development panel –discussion and consensus resulted in revisions to the draft document prior to pilot testing.