There have been many related studies concerning glucocorticoid‑induced mental disorders, but there is a continuous controversy about the effect of glucocorticoids on delirium and pathophysiological mechanisms, which are inconclusive. Defining the drugs and mechanisms that cause delirium and preventing them may be of importance to guide clinical practice. This article reviews the effects of glucocorticoids on the pathogenesis of delirium in different hospitalized patients.