Delrium VS Dementia Flashcards
What is the difference in mode of onset?
Delirium - acute or subacute
Dementia - chronic or subacute
Is there poor attention?
Delirium - characteristic
Dementia - late event
Conscious level?
Delirium - often affected - may be wild fluctuations
Dementia - normal
Are there hallucinations and misinterpretations?
Delirium - common
Dementia - late events
Is there fear, agitation and aggression?
Delirium - common
Dementia - not common in early stages
Is the thought pattern totally disorganised with palpably unreal ideas?
Delirium - common
Dementia - late feature, usually poverty of thought
Are there any motor signs?
Delirium - postural tremor, myoclonus, asterixis
Dementia - none or late feature
What is the speech like?
Delirium - slurred
Dementia - normal
Is dysphasia present?
Delirium - none
Dementia - often present
Is dysgraphia present?
Delirium - often prominent
Demeentia - if present it is in keeping with degree of dementia
how are short and long term memory effected?
Delirium - poor
Dementia - often normal until late
How is consciousness disturbed in delirium?
Reduced clarity of awareness
Reduced ability to focus, sustain or shift attention
How is there a change in cognition in delirium?
Memory deficit Disorientation Language disturbance Perceptual distortions Hallucinations Delusions Impaired abstract thinking Impairment of consciousness and attention Global disturbance of cognition Psychomotor disturbances Disturbance of sleep-wake cycle Emotional disturbances
Phases of the condition in delirium?
Hyperactive Heightened arousal, agitation, restlessness, aggression Hypoactive Withdrawn, quiet, sleepy Mixed Sleep-wake disturbance
What are the risk factors for delirium?
Age >65 Physical frailty Cognitive impairment Current hip fracture Severe illness Polypharmacy Sensory deprivation Alcohol excess Malnutrition
