Delirium

Delirium (acute confusional state) is an acute, fluctuating disturbance of attention and awareness, with cognitive/behavioral features, caused by an underlying medical condition, intoxication, medication adverse effect, or withdrawal. It is common in hospitalized elderly and postoperative patients. Clinical: fluctuating attention, disorientation, hallucinations, sleep-wake reversal, agitation or lethargy. Treatment: identify and reverse the underlying cause (infection, hypoxia, drugs, metabolic disturbance), supportive care (reorientation, family, sleep, mobility), and avoid restraints/anticholinergics; low-dose antipsychotics only for dangerous agitation.

Common Symptoms

Fluctuating attention; disorientation; hallucinations; sleep-wake reversal; agitation/lethargy; acute onset over hours-days

Causes and Pathogenesis

Medical illness, drugs/sedatives, surgery, pain, or metabolic disturbance cause acute neurotransmitter/neuroinflammatory dysfunction, impairing attention and awareness.

Treatment

Identify/treat underlying cause; reorientation/sleep/mobility; avoid restraints/anticholinergics; low-dose antipsychotic for dangerous agitation

Preventive Measures

Hospital delirium-prevention bundles; avoid sedatives/anticholinergics in elderly; early mobilization.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Psychiatry department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.