Ironically there remains much confusion concerning delirium within health care and research communities.1 Though recognised since antiquity, and now affecting at least 80 hospitalised patients out of every 500, delirium still remains on the margins of the mainstream. In clinical practice, training and thus basic knowledge are often lacking.2 Variable and vague terminology abounds, and treatment lacks standardisation.3, 4 In parallel, delirium's enormous human and economic impact is far from being matched by commensurate scientific scrutiny. Yet recent developments may offer some encouragement.