Summaries of Nursing Care-Related Systematic Reviews Benzodiazepines for delirium.

Delirium is an acute confusional state where cognition and attention are impaired. It can result in longer stays in hospital, increased morbidity and mortality, and occurs in up to 30% of patients. Nurses within the hospital setting, on a day to day basis, care for adults who experience delirium. Effective management of delirium is both challenging and time consuming. Benzodiazepines, which include diazepam, temazepam and lorazepam are used in a number of roles, including the treatment of anxiety and to aid sleep. Some are used for controlling alcohol related delirium, but their role in managing non-alcohol related delirium is unclear. Medication that can assist in resolving or managing delirium may be of benefit to nurses, their patients and relatives, for whom this is often a particularly distressing phenomenon.