No evidence has been found to support or refute the suggestion that antipsychotics shorten the course of delirium in hospitalized patients.

Based on the available studies, antipsychotics do not reduce the severity of delirium or resolve symptoms compared to non-antipsychotic drugs or placebo or lower the risk of dying.

No evidence found to support or refute the suggestion that antipsychotics shorten hospital length of stay or improve health-related quality of life. Side effects were rarely reported in the studies.

9 studies with 727 participants testing antipsychotics for delirium treatment found; 4 trials compared an antipsychotic to another drug class or placebo and 7 of the nine trials compared a typical antipsychotic to an atypical antipsychotic.

Read More