Journal article

Efficacy of oral risperidone, haloperidol, or placebo for symptoms of delirium among patients in palliative care: A randomized clinical trial

MR Agar, PG Lawlor, S Quinn, B Draper, GA Caplan, D Rowett, C Sanderson, J Hardy, B Le, S Eckermann, N McCaffrey, L Devilee, B Fazekas, M Hill, DC Currow

JAMA Internal Medicine | Published : 2017

Abstract

IMPORTANCE Antipsychotics are widely used for distressing symptoms of delirium, but efficacy has not been established in placebo-controlled trials in palliative care. OBJECTIVE To determine efficacy of risperidone or haloperidol relative to placebo in relieving target symptoms of delirium associated with distress among patients receiving palliative care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A double-blind, parallel-arm, dose-titrated randomized clinical trial was conducted at 11 Australian inpatient hospice or hospital palliative care services between August 13, 2008, and April 2, 2014, among participants with life-limiting illness, delirium, and a delirium symptoms score (sum of Nursing Deliri..

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University of Melbourne Researchers