Early Recognition and Optimal Treatment of Delirium in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The investigators designed a randomised multicenter clinical trial for patients with advanced
cancer who are admitted to the medical oncology ward or high-care hospice. On admission all
patients with advanced cancer will be asked to participate in this study. Consenting patients
will be submitted to delirium observation screening according to the DOS. Subsequently DOS
screening will be performed twice weekly until discharge. Each patient who's score is > 3
(DOS positive) is showing significant symptoms of delirium and will be submitted to the
revised Delirium Rating Scale (DRS-R-98) to confirm diagnosis. To test validity of the DOS
scale for this particular population, each DOS positive score will be randomly matched with a
patient with a DOS score < 3 (DOSnegative) and this patient will also be submitted to
DRS-R-98. When diagnosis of delirium is confirmed by DRS-98, patients will be randomised
between treatment of delirium with olanzapine or haloperidol (usual care). Treatment in both
groups will consist of identification and management of underlying aetiologies of delirium if
possible and adding neuroleptic medication for symptom control. Patients who recover from
their delirium episode as well as their caregivers will be asked to complete the Delirium
Experience Questionnaire (DEQ) to assess recall of the delirium experience and the degree of
distress related to the delirium episode.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
VU University Medical Center
Collaborator:
ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development