Theodore A. Stern, MD

Delirium in the setting of terminalillness is common; moreover,it can create extremehardships for patients and their families,who are already facing the mostdifficult of circumstances. However,delirium that develops in the contextof comorbid medical conditions maybe readily reversible with thoughtfulevaluation and effective management.Friedlander, Brayman, and Breitbartdescribe important factors to considerwhen assessing and treating deliriumin the context of end-stage illness.We will elaborate on their discussionand emphasize some common pitfallsassociated with the management ofdelirium.