Delirium Flashcards
What is delirium?
A common and serious condition characterised by disruptions in cognition.
What are the three kinds of delirium?
Hyperactive Delirium
Hypoactive Delirium
Mixed Delirium
What is Hyperactive Delirium?
Person becomes hyper alert and aware, easily startled, agitated, heightened sensory awareness, irritable, frustrated, unable to sit still
What is hypoactive delirium?
Where the person is lethargic, apathetic, slow in movement, sleepy, withdrawn and difficult to wake.
What is mixed delirium?
where the person alternates
between hyperactive and hypoactive
delirium. This can change throughout the day.
Key indicators of delirium?
Cognition - confused and less aware of surroundings
False Beliefs - hallucinations, paranoia
Physical - changes in appetite, mobility, sleep pattern
Social - persons social interactions may change
Think Delirium if…
Acute onset
Inattention
Disordered thinking or level of consciousness
Causes of delirium?
Infection - eg. urinary tract infections, pneumonia, or fever from a viral infection • Medicines such as anticholinergics, analgesics and corticosteroids • Serious medical condition – eg diseases of the liver, kidney, lungs, and heart • Suddenly stopping drugs or alcohol • Major surgery • Acute stress • Epilepsy • Chemical problems in the body such as dehydration and low salt levels • Brain injury or infection • Terminal illness • Constipation • Urine catheter • Immobility
Dementia vs Delirium?
-Delirium develops rapidly while dementia tends to develop slowly (though not always)
-In delirium attention span is very short
-In dementia may have
difficulty with abstraction, thoughts and
difficulty finding words. A
Delirium = disorganised, distorted
incoherent and either slow or accelerated
thinking.
Suspected Delirium Management?
- AMT4
- 4AT Assessment Tool (inc AMT4)
