Delirium Lecture Powerpoint Flashcards
Confusion
A problem with coherent thinking, characterized by confused patients unable to think with normal speed, clarity, or coherence, an essential component of delirium
Acute confusion state
Refers to acute state of altered consciousness with disordered attention, diminished speed, clarity, and coherence of thought. Delirium is a special type of confusional state
Delirium
An acute confusional state associated with varying picture of agitation, hallucinations, convulsions, tremor, delusions, and inability to sleep. Often also has psychomotor behavioral disturbances such as hypoactivity/hyperactivity, variable emotional disturbances, and similar symptoms to dementia
5 Key characteristics that define delirium
1) distrubance in attention and awareness
2) short period of time development change from baseline and tends to fluctuate
3) disturbance in cognition such as memory deficit or disorientation
4) cannot be explained by another pre-existing condition (such as dementia)
5) evidence from history/PE/lab findings indicate a causal factor
3 types of altered memory seen in delirium
1) Retrograde (past)
2) antegrade (create new memories)
3) confabulation (misinterpretation or fabrication)
Nearly __% of older medical patients experience delirium at some point during hospitalization, with even higher rates in surgical patients
30%
Delirium vs dementia
Delirium affects mainly attention, vs dementia affects mainly memory
Delirium vs dementia onset
Sudden with definitive beginning vs gradual with unknown beginning
Delirium vs dementia duration
Days to weeks vs permanent
Delirium vs dementia cause
Almost always 2nd to a acute condition vs chronic brain disorder
Delirium vs dementia course
Reversible usually vs slowly progressive
Delirium vs dementia effect at night
Both usually worsen
Delirium vs dementia attention
Greatly impaired vs unimpaired until end stage
Delirium vs dementia orientation
Varied vs always impaired
Delirium vs dementia language use
Slow and incoherent and inappropriate vs sometimes difficutly to finding right word