Delirium: Assessment, Consequences, and Sequelae

Case description

Delirium is a bed-side diagnosis, there are no blood tests or imaging studies which will confirm the diagnosis. Only the EEG evaluation can be helpful. Neurological exam is an important part of evaluation. While assesing the cognitive functions the most common manifestation is executive dysfunction. Sometimes there may be disorientation (but not always), short-term memory impairment, language deficitis. In differential diagnosis you need to consider dementia and traumatic brain injury, sometimes it may also mimic depression or some psychotic disorders. In patients with delirium there is a higher risk of morbidity, medical complications, dementia.
Video by Psychopharmacology Institute

tags: delirium cognitive dysfunction dementia

Editor

Agata Twardowska

MD