Delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) in the community
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How is delirium-superimposed on dementia (DSD) recognised in the community and what is the impact on people with dementia and family carers?
IRAS ID
352029
Contact name
Nathan Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Office University College London (UCL)
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2025/02/08 health research, UCL Data Protection Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background: This project aims to understand how delirium in people with dementia, known as delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD), is recognised by family carers and health care professionals in community settings. Dementia and delirium are two separate conditions, yet they can be challenging to identify separately due to the overlapping symptoms. Dementia is a progressive decline in cognition whereas delirium is a sudden and fluctuating change in mental status.
Unrecognised and thus untreated delirium leads to very serious consequences in people with dementia. It can worsen cognitive decline, increase carer burden, increase risk of hospitalisations and mortality. Despite this, there is a lack of research of DSD in community settings.This study will investigate how family carers and healthcare professionals in the community recognise delirium in people with DSD and how it affects family carers.
The research will involve two main parts:
• Family Carer Survey: A survey will collect information from at least 50 family carers of people with dementia who have experienced delirium in community settings.
• Qualitative Study: In-depth interviews will be conducted with up to 20 family carers, and focus groups will be held with up to 20 healthcare professionals to explore their experiences and viewpoints on DSD.This research will greatly improve our understanding of the impact on family carers supporting with DSD. The ultimate goal is to empower family carers by giving them the knowledge and skills to spot the signs of delirium, communicate effectively with healthcare providers, and navigate the healthcare system. The findings will also help policymakers prioritise initiatives, such as educational programs, that can effectively reduce the stress and burden on family carers.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0959
Date of REC Opinion
15 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion