The MIND Study: Modifying the INcidence of Delirium

Inclusion Criteria: Medical or surgical ICU patients on mechanical ventilation who are receiving sedatives or analgesics or displaying an abnormal level of consciousness (delirium or coma). Exclusion Criteria: Subjects expected to have a short time on mechanical ventilation. That is, those in whom the likelihood for the need for mechanical ventilation is less than 24 hours. Subjects who have been on mechanical ventilation for more than 72 hours. Subjects in whom gastric access is not available (i.e., no enteral feeding tube or NG/OG tube)and is not anticipated to be available for 48 hours. Subjects younger than 18 years old. Subjects who are pregnant (a pregnancy test will be performed on all women of child bearing age) or breastfeeding. Inability to obtain informed consent from the subject or the subject's authorized representative. Documented history of allergic reaction to ziprasidone or haloperidol. Subjects admitted to the ICU for drug/alcohol overdose, suicide attempts, alcohol withdrawal/delirium tremens. Subjects with active seizures or cerebrovascular accident within the last 2 weeks. Subjects who are benzodiazepine dependent at the time of index hospitalization (i.e., patients on benzodiazepines as outpatient and whose attending judges it unsafe to withhold these medications due to risk for withdrawal syndrome). Subjects with chronic pain syndromes or who are on maintenance narcotics. Subjects with a history of torsades de pointes, known history of QT prolongation (e.g., congenital long QT syndrome), a QTc at baseline of 500 ms or over in the absence of bundle branch block, documented myocardial infarction within the previous 2 weeks, or uncompensated NYHA IV heart failure (dyspnea or anginal syndrome present at rest due to CHF). [NOTE: ICU patients who have an incidental rise in troponin in the absence of definitive ischemic ECG changes remain eligible] Subjects who are on neuroleptic therapy as an outpatient maintenance drug (e.g., haloperidol, mesoridazine, thorazine, chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, droperidol, risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, or ziprasidone). Subjects who are receiving and will continue to receive other drugs that prolong the QT interval such as sotalol, quinidine, other Class Ia or III anti-arrhythmics, dofetilide (Tikosyn for arrhythmias), pimozide (for Tourette's), gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin (levofloxacin permissible), pentamidine, tacrolimus (Prograf), dolasetron (Anzemet). Azithromycin is an acceptable medication for study patients, and anyone slated to receive (or receiving) either clarithromycin or erythromycin can be switched to azithromycin by their primary team and be enrolled into the study the following day. Patients receiving clindamycin or clotrimazole will be excluded from the study. Subjects who have a history of neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Subjects with potassium levels below 3.0 mg/dl or magnesium levels below 1.8 mg/dl. NOTE: If the patient is receiving replacement of K+ or Mg+, then he/she would be eligible unless there is reason to suspect that these electrolyte abnormalities will be refractory. Subjects with moderate/severe dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's type, vascular origin, or HIV-related) as documented by medical history or modified Blessed dementia rating scale (mBDRS) 4 or more or Informant Questionnaire of Cognitive Dysfunction in the Elderly (IQCODE) over 3.6. Subjects who have suspected anoxic brain injury or documented cerebral edema at the time of screening. Subjects who are moribund and not expected to survive 24 hours from the time of study enrollment, or who have a "Do Not Resuscitate" order, or whose family or medical team have not committed to aggressive support (e.g., not going to use vasopressors or mechanical ventilation or likely to have withdrawal of support within 24 hours).