Delirium Health Article

Licensed from Print
Table of Contents
Reviewer Info: Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Departments of Anatomy & Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.; ADAM Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, 02/13/2008
Page: 1 2 Next >

Definition

Delirium is sudden severe confusion and rapid changes in brain function that occur with physical or mental illness.

Alternative Names

Acute confusional state; Acute brain syndrome

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Delirium is most often caused by physical or mental illness and is usually temporary and reversible. Many disorders cause delirium, including conditions that deprive the brain of oxygen or other substances.

Causes include:

Patients with more severe brain injuries are more likely to get delirium from another illness.

Symptoms

Delirium involves a quick change between mental states (for example, from lethargy to agitation and back to lethargy).

Symptoms include:

  • Changes in alertness (usually more alert in the morning, less alert at night)
  • Changes in feeling (sensation) and perception
  • Changes in level of consciousness or awareness
  • Changes in movement (for example, may be inactive or slow moving)
  • Changes in sleep patterns, drowsiness
  • Confusion (disorientation) about time or place
  • Decrease in short-term memory and recall
    • Unable to remember events since delirium began (anterograde amnesia)
    • Unable to remember past events (retrograde amnesia)
  • Disrupted or wandering attention
    • Inability to think or behave with purpose
    • Problems concentrating
  • Disorganized thinking
    • Speech that doesn't make sense (incoherent)
    • Inability to stop speech patterns or behaviors
  • Emotional or personality changes
  • Movements triggered by changes in the nervous system (psychomotor restlessness)

Signs and tests

The following tests may have abnormal results:

  • An exam of the nervous system (neurologic examination)
  • Psychologic studies
  • Tests of feeling (sensation), thinking (cognitive function), and motor function

The following tests may also be done:

Page: 1 2 Next >

advertisement

Back to Top Print

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.