comparisons of delirium, dementia and depression

Question 1

onset

Answer 1

DELIRIUM: Sudden, hours to days
DEMENTIA: Slowly over months
DEPRESSION: Gradual w/exacerbation during crisis/stress

Question 2

cause or contributing factors

Answer 2

DELIRIUM: Hypoglycemia, fever, dehydration, hypotension,
infection, something that disrupts homeostasis, adverse
drug reaction; head injury, change in environment (hospital)
pain, emotional distress
DEMENTIA: AD, vascular disease, human immunodefiicent
virus infection, neurological disease, chronic alcoholism,
head trauma
DEPRESSION: Lifelong history, losses, loneliness, crises,
declining health, medical conditions

Question 3

cognition

Answer 3

DELIRIUM: impaired memory, judgement, calculations,
attention span, can fluctuate through the day
DEMENTIA: Impaired memory, judgment, calculations,
attention span, abstract thinking; agnosia
DEPRESSION: difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness
inattention

Question 4

level of consciousness

Answer 4

DELIRIUM: Altered
DEMENTIA: Not altered
DEPRESSION: not altered

Question 5

activity level

Answer 5

DELIRIUM: Can be increased or reduced; restlessness,
behaviors may worsen in evening (sundowning)
DEMENTIA: Not altered, behaviors may worsen in evening
DEPRESSION: Usually decreased, lethargy, fatigue, lack of
motivation; may sleep poorly & awaken early in morning

Question 6

emotional state

Answer 6

DELIRIUM: rapid swings, can be fearful, anxious, suspicious
agressive, have hallucinations and/or delusions
DEMENTIA: flat, agitation
DEPRESSION: Extreme sadness, apathy, irritability, anxiety
paranoid ideation

Question 7

speech and language

Answer 7

DELIRIUM: rapid and inappropriate, incoherent, rambling
DEMENTIA: incoherent, slow (agnosia)inappropriate
rambling, repetitious
DEPRESSION: Slow, flat, low

Question 8

prognosis

Answer 8

DELIRIUM: Reversible w/proper & timely treatment
DEMENTIA: not reversible; progressive
DEPRESSION: reversible w/proper & timely treatment