Cognitive Problems

Question 1

Define cognitive problems

Answer 1

Psychiatric disorders caused by demonstrable pathology of the brain or other organ

Question 2

Neurological causes of cognitive problems

Answer 2

Encephalitis

Epilepsy

Space occupying lesion

MS

Dementia

Question 3

Endocrine causes of cognitive problems

Answer 3

Hyperthyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Hypoglycaemia

Question 4

Metabolic causes of cognitive problems

Answer 4

Hypercalcaemia

Question 5

Iatrogenic causes of cognitive problems

Answer 5

Medication e.g. steroids

Question 6

Drug and alcohol causes of cognitive problems

Answer 6

Effects of long-term drug use

Drug intoxication

Drug withdrawal

Question 7

Define delirium

Answer 7

Fluctuating global cognitive impairment with behavioural disturbance

Acute onset

Question 8

Clinical symptoms of delirium

Answer 8

Impaired consciousness and attention

Sleep-wake disturbance

Psychomotor disturbance (hyperactive, hypoactive, mixed)

Change in emotional reactivity

Confused speech

Perceptual abnormalities (often visual)

Fleeting delusions (often paranoid)

Question 9

Define dementia

Answer 9

Syndrome of progressive global cognitive impairment

Usually irreversible

Question 10

Clinical symptoms of dementia

Answer 10

Anxiety

Depression

Catastrophic reactions

Pathological emotion

Poorly systematised delusions and hallucinations

Increased confusion towards the end of the day (sundowning)

Question 11

Causes of dementia

Answer 11

Degenerative disorders

Vascular disorders

Intracranial lesions

Infection

Endocrine and metabolic disorders

Toxins