Quetiapine Versus Haloperidol in the Management of Hyperactive Delirium

A common complication in the intensive care unit (ICU) that has recently been identified is delirium. Defining delirium as a "sudden deterioration in attention, awareness, and cognition, which is not explained by any pre-existing neurocognitive disorder, but because of another medical condition," the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) clarified the definition of delirium.

A dibenzothiazepine derivative with a novel and distinctive pharmacologic profile is quetiapine. The limbic system is overactive in delirium, which is one of its pathophysiologies. By obstructing the mesolimbic dopamine D2 receptors specifically, quetiapine may be able to regulate this hyperactivity.

The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of quetiapine with haloperidol in treating the hyperactive form of delirium in terms of their effects on morbidity, length of stay in ICU, and mortality in critically ill patients.

This research will not receive any grants, funding, or financial aid (NOT FUNDED STUDY). Collaborators declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Inclusion criteria

• All patients who are diagnosed with hyperactive form of delirium during their ICU stay using CAM-ICU tool (the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit)

Exclusion criteria

• Suspected substance-induced delirium
• Previous use of antipsychotics
• Known allergy or intolerance to the study drugs
• Pregnancy or breast feeding
• Acute renal injury
• Hepatic failure
• Inability to tolerate oral drugs