Comparison - Delirium, Dementia, Depression

Question 0

Cause/Contributing factors:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 0

1. Hypoglycemia, fever, dehydration, hypotension, infection, other conditions that disrupt the body’s homeostasis; adverse drug reactions, head injury, change in environment (hospitalization), pain, emotional stress
2. Alzheimer disease, vascular disease, HIV, neurological disease, chronic alcoholism, head trauma
3. Lifelong history, losses, loneliness, crises, declining health, medical conditions

Question 1

Onset of:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 1

1. Sudden, hrs - days
2. Slowly, over months
3. Gradual, with exacerbation during crisis or stress

Question 2

Cognition:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 2

1. Impaired memory, judgement, calculations, attention span; can fluctuate through the day
2. Impaired memory, judgement, calculations, attention span, abstract thinking; agnosia
3. Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, inattention

Question 3

LOC:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 3

1. Altered
2. Not altered
3. Not altered

Question 4

Activity level:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 4

1. Can be increased or reduced; restlessness, behaviors may worsen in the evening (sundowning); sleep/wake cycle may be reversed
2. Not altered; behaviors may worsen in evening (sundowning)
3. Usually decreased; lethargy, fatigue, lack of motivation; may sleep poorly and awaken in early morning

Question 5

Emotional State:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 5

1. Rapid swings; can be fearful, anxious, aggressive, suspicious, have hallucinations or delusions
2. Flat; agitation
3. Extreme sadness, apathy, irritability, anxiety, paranoid ideation

Question 6

Speech and Language:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 6

1. Rapid, inappropriate, incoherent, rambling
2. Incoherent, slow (sometimes due to effort to find next word), inappropriate, rambling, repetitious
3. Slow, flat, low

Question 7

Prognosis:

1. Delirium
2. Dementia
3. Depression

Answer 7

1. Reversible with proper and timely treatment
2. Not reversible; progressive
3. Reversible with proper and timely treatment