Internal medicine journal
-
Internal medicine journal · Jan 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialResults from a double blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled, feasibility trial of melatonin for the treatment of delirium in older medical inpatients.
Delirium is common in elderly inpatients, causing distress, cognitive decline and death. No known intervention improves the course of delirium; current treatments are symptomatic, and limited by lack of efficacy and adverse effects. There is an urgent need to find an effective treatment for delirium. ⋯ A trial of the hypothesis that 5 mg melatonin nightly for five nights reduces delirium severity in older medical inpatients would require 120 patients, and is feasible.