Delirium Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Kannayiram Alagiakrishnan, MD, MBBS, MHA, MPH; Chief Editor: Iqbal Ahmed, MBBS, FRCPsych (UK)   more...
 
Updated: May 8, 2012
 
 

Differential Diagnoses

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Kannayiram Alagiakrishnan, MD, MBBS, MHA, MPH  Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Canada

Kannayiram Alagiakrishnan, MD, MBBS, MHA, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American Geriatrics Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Patricia Blanchette, MD  Department Chair and Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program, Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii

Patricia Blanchette, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Medical Directors Association, Gerontological Society of America, and Hawaii Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mohammed A Memon, MD  Chairman and Attending Geriatric Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, Spartanburg Regional Medical Center

Mohammed A Memon, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Medical Association, and American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Harold H Harsch, MD  Program Director of Geropsychiatry, Department of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Medicine, Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin

Harold H Harsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: lilly Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sunovion Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Otsuke Grant/research funds reseach; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Iqbal Ahmed, MBBS, FRCPsych (UK)  Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Tripler Army Medical Center; Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences: Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical Professor of Geriatric Medicine, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine

Iqbal Ahmed, MBBS, FRCPsych (UK) is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Neuropsychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, and Royal College of Psychiatrists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Table 1
FeaturesDeliriumDementia
OnsetAcuteInsidious
CourseFluctuatingProgressive
DurationDays to weeksMonths to years
ConsciousnessAlteredClear
AttentionImpairedNormal, except in severe dementia
Psychomotor changesIncreased or decreasedOften normal
ReversibilityUsuallyRarely
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