Delirium is an acute condition marked by disturbances in cognition, awareness, and attention, commonly observed in hospitalized patients due to factors such as illness severity and medication. It is particularly prevalent in intensive care unit settings, affecting up to 80% of ventilated patients. This study investigates whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) delirium aligns with expectations of non–COVID-19 delirium incidence in other hospitalized patients and identifies unique or common factors contributing to delirium in these groups. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 107 hospitalized patients diagnosed with delirium, comprising 56 COVID-19 patients and 51 non–COVID-19 patients. Data were collected through detailed medical record reviews and structured interviews with patients and their caregivers to evaluate factors associated with delirium. Results: The findings revealed a higher prevalence of medication-related stressors in COVID-19 delirium compared to non–COVID-19 delirium. This suggests that overmedication may play a critical role in the development of delirium, regardless of the underlying critical illness condition. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant association between medication stressors and COVID-19 delirium. These findings emphasize the importance of minimizing unnecessary medications and closely monitoring pharmacological treatments to reduce delirium incidence and improve outcomes in hospitalized populations.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, on the frequency of symptoms of anxiety and depression in obese individuals.

METHODSIn this double blind, cross-over trial, 30 obese subjects were randomized to receive either curcumin (1 g/day) or placebo for a period of 30 days. Following a wash-out interval of 2 weeks, each subject was crossed over to the alternative regimen for a further 30 days. Severity of anxiety and depression was assessed at baseline and at weeks 4, 6 and 10 of the trial using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scales, respectively.

RESULTSMean BAI score was found to be significantly reduced following curcumin therapy (P=0.03). However, curcumin supplementation did not exert any significant impact on BDI scores (P=0.7).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin has a potential anti-anxiety effect in individuals with obesity.

Adult ; Anxiety ; complications ; drug therapy ; Curcumin ; therapeutic use ; Demography ; Depression ; complications ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; drug therapy ; Placebos ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales