This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Delirium

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

First described more than 2500 years ago, delirium, derived from the Latin word delirare (deviate from a straight track), is an acute, fluctuating syndrome of altered attention, awareness and cognition caused by an underlying condition or event in vulnerable people (1,2,3).

  • several other names have been used in practice and in the literature to describe this condition such as - altered mental status, acute confusional state, sundowning, encephalopathy, and acute organic brain syndrome (3)
  • having delirium can result in: longer hospital stay, increased risk of dementia, increased mortality (1,4)

ICD-10 definition of delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive substances:

“An aetiologically nonspecific organic cerebral syndrome characterized by concurrent disturbances of consciousness and attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor behaviour, emotion, and the sleep-wake schedule. The duration is variable and the degree of severity ranges from mild to very severe” (4).

Delirium can be divided into three subtypes:

  • hperactive delirium: a subtype of delirium characterised by people who have heightened arousal and can be restless, agitated or aggressive
  • hypoactive delirium: a subtype of delirium characterised by people who become withdrawn, quiet and sleepy
  • mixed
    • hypoactive and mixed delirium can be more difficult to recognise (5)

The cause can be established within a few hours of admission in over 90% of cases and when the underlying cause has been treated then full recovery of mental function is the rule. Failure to recognise delirium and instigate the appropriate diagnostic routine is thus a serious clinical error.

It can be difficult to distinguish between delirium and dementia and some people may have both conditions. If clinical uncertainty exists over the diagnosis, the person should be managed initially for delirium

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.