The Epidemic within the Covid19 Pandemic: Delirium

Article in New York Times (may 2020): Scores of phycisians from around the world report a rise in delirium of up to 70% because of Covid-19, says Dr Inouye (USA). It is occurring in both younger and older patients. Because of the restrictions on visitation and care to limit infection, Arjen Slooter, president of the European Delirium Association, told her, “it’s difficult to provide the humanistic care necessary to prevent delirium.” Dr. Slooter practices in the Netherlands, a world leader in Intensive Care Neuropsychiatry, but even there, he said, “All our patients are delirious, just like 20 years ago.”

End of June 2020, the NY times published another article: ‘They Want to Kill Me’: Many Covid Patients Have Terrifying Delirium. Also in Dutch national Newspapers (Volkskrant, AD) and on the BBC television there was a lot of attention for the high delirium rate amongst COVID-19 patients. This virus is a ‘delirium factory’.