Michaud, L.

Stiefel, F.

RERO DOC Digital Library

Published online: 20 September 2003© Springer-Verlag 2003This is an important book for healthcare professionals working in pallia-tive care. The topic has been com-prehensively treated based on anbroad literature search and the clini-cal experience of the authors. Casereports as well as figures and tableshelp to illustrate the specific aspectsof delirium. A statement in the pref-ace concerning the methods utilizedto write the book and on its generalorganization could have been ofhelp.The book is well structured andcontains an index, which allows arapid access to the different topics.While most of the relevant issues—such as the various assessment toolsand cultural or communicational as-pects—are addressed, a specific linkto palliative care is sometimes lack-ing. For example, the lists of the var-ious etiologies of delirium are ex-haustive, but a separate and clinical-ly oriented overview of its most fre-quent causes in palliative care couldhave been added.While some of the chapters closewith a short and useful conclusion, asummary is missing, especially forthe reader who wants to rapidly gainan understanding of what is treatedin a specific chapter. The variousstudies referenced invite the readerto access the existing literature; acritical appreciation of these studiesby the authors could have been im-portant for those who may not be familiar with research and method-ological issues.The nonpharmacological and pre-ventive interventions for deliriumare not as prominently treated as itspharmacological management; theeconomical consequences and a pub-lic health perspective are missing.However, all other relevant aspectsof delirium are presented in a com-petent and concise way, and thereader benefits from the sound clini-cal and scientific experiences of theauthors.In conclusion, this is an impor-tant contribution for a better under-standing and management of thisfrequent and neglected disorder. Theauthors are able to transmit the com-plexity of delirium and to put it intoa broad perspective; still, the readersalso receive very pragmatic adviceand orientation for their daily clini-cal practice. The book is very attrac-tive to read and stimulates the readerto think about delirium and manyother important aspects of palliativecare.Support Care Cancer (2003) 11:745DOI 10.1007/s00520-003-0521-1 B O O K  R E V I E WL. MichaudF. StiefelA. Caraceni, L. Grassi: Delirium—acute confusional states in palliative medicineOxford University Press, New York, 2003 (0192631993)L. Michaud (✉) · F. StiefelPsychiatry Service,University Hospital Lausanne,Lausanne, Switzerland

A. Caraceni, L. Grassi: Delirium—acute confusional states in palliative medicine: Oxford University Press, New York, 2003 (0192631993)

http://doc.rero.ch/record/317777/files/520_2003_Article_521.pdf

A. Caraceni, L. Grassi: Delirium—acute confusional states in palliative medicine: Oxford University Press, New York, 2003 (0192631993)

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

RERO DOC Digital Library