Hospital Psychosis Due to Idiosyncratic Drug Reactions
Hospitals are considered places of healing, but they can also be stressful. Pain and discomfort, loud or intrusive medical equipment, unfamiliar surroundings, disorienting hospital schedules and idiosyncratic drug reactions can all contribute to what is called hospital psychosis.
Hospital Psychosis
Patients admitted to a hospital with one condition, but subsequently diagnosed with hospital psychosis-also known as ICU psychosis-experience sensory hallucinations that feel extremely real, slurred speech, mental confusion and memory loss, according to an "American Association of Critical Care Nurses" website on "ICU Psychosis."
Factors in Hospital Psychosis
The length of time a patient spends in a hospital is a major factor in the severity of hospital psychosis, according to the "American Association of Critical Care Nurses" website, but other factors include: sleep deprivation due to hospital routines, lack of appropriate light cues-a condition known as 'sundowner's syndrome'-and idiosyncratic drug reactions.
Idiosyncratic Drug Reactions
Idiosyncratic, or 'Type B,' drug reactions are atypical reactions to a drug that are unforeseen in medical experience or product literature, according to the "American Academy of Family Physicians" website on "Adverse Drug Reactions." Hospital psychosis is only one type of idiosyncratic drug reaction.
Type B Variables
One problem in discovering which specific drug might be contributing to hospital psychosis is that idiosyncratic, or Type B, drug reactions can also occur due to combinations of drugs, or a combination of drugs and anesthesia, according to a "MedicineNet" website on "ICU Psychosis."
Treatment of Hospital Psychosis
Treatment of hospital psychosis can include sedation with anti-psychotic medications, including haloperidol, according to the "MedicineNet" website, but if the condition is actually triggered by an idiosyncratic drug reaction, additional drugs may pose a problem. The first step is to review all of the patient's medications.
Tags: according American, Hospital Psychosis, according American Association, according MedicineNet, according MedicineNet website, American Association