Patients require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment of a specific underlying pathology. Unfortunately, the burden of critical illness has many associated sequalae. Pain, agitation and delirium are such problems frequently encountered in the ICU. 

Pain can result from not only the underlying pathology, but also from surgical procedures and invasive interventions required to manage it. During this module we will explore pain in the ICU, highlighting the reasons patients experience it, the detrimental consequences of pain, how we can assess it and how we can manage it. 

Agitation is common in the ICU. This module will examine the reasons why it occurs and the measures we can take to address it. We will look in detail at the use of sedative medications in intensive care, the different drugs used, their indications and their risks. We will also explore how best to assess agitation and adjust sedatives in order to maximise their benefits while reducing their harm. 

Delirium is not only common in the intensive care population, it can also be considered a marker of disease severity and is associated with an increased risk of death. This module will examine the pathophysiology underlying delirium, its risk factors, how we can detect and measure delirium as well as how we can prevent it and potentially treat it. 

By the end of this module we hope you will have a greater understanding of these common problems encountered in critical care. Ultimately, we hope that this module provides a framework from which you should develop a tailored, person-centred and holistic approach to managing pain, agitation and delirium in your patients.