Since the 1999 publication of the APA's Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Delirium (1), advances in the clinical neurosciences and other areas have contributed to the understanding of delirium and have expanded options for its management. This guideline watch summarizes important elements of the incremental progress in this area.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) practice guidelines are developed by expert work groups using an explicit methodology that includes rigorous review of available evidence, broad peer review of iterative drafts, and formal approval by the APA Assembly and Board of Trustees. APA practice guidelines are intended to assist psychiatrists in clinical decision making. They are not intended to be a standard of care. The ultimate judgment regarding a particular clinical procedure or treatment plan must be made by the psychiatrist in light of the clinical data presented by the patient and the diagnostic and treatment options available. Guideline watches summarize significant developments in practice since publication of an APA practice guideline. Watches may be authored and reviewed by experts associated with the original guideline development effort and are approved for publication by APA's Executive Committee on Practice Guidelines. Thus, watches represent opinion of the authors and approval of the Executive Committee but not policy of the APA. This guideline watch was published in August 2004. Copyright © 2004. American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved. Suggested citation: Cook IA: Guideline Watch: Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Delirium. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2004. Available online at http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/treatg/pg/prac_guide.cfm.