Pharmacologic Treatment for Hypoactive Delirium in Adult Patients: A Brief Report of the Literature

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report was to identify medications that can be used to treat hypoactive delirium.

DESIGN: A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science from inception through September 20, 2020.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Reports evaluating different pharmacologic treatments for hypoactive delirium in adults (age 18 years and older) and geriatric patients were included.

METHODS: Three independent investigators reviewed the abstracts, using the Rayyan QCRI review tool to decide which articles were eligible for inclusion. Hereafter, articles were read completely for final inclusion. Study quality was assessed using the guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for cohort studies and randomized control trials.

RESULTS: Of the 52 relevant articles, only 4 (8%) met the selection criteria. Two were cohort studies whereas the other 2 were randomized control trials. After further review, one of the reports was excluded because the same data were used as in one of the randomized control trials. In total, 4 different pharmacologic therapies were used in the selected studies: haloperidol, ziprasidone, aripiprazole, and methylphenidate. Aripiprazole showed a complete resolution of hypoactive delirium (P < .001), and methylphenidate showed a significant amelioration in cognitive function (P < .001). Ziprasidone and haloperidol did not show significant differences compared with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: A limited number of clinical studies on the treatment of hypoactive delirium are available. Aripiprazole and methylphenidate showed promising results in the treatment of hypoactive delirium.