Confusion and Delirium

terms used to describe patients with delirium

• altered attention & awareness,

• develops over hrs to days,

• often fluctuating,

• accompanied by cognitive Δs (eg, disorientation, memory loss, perceptual Δs); sometimes w/ sleep–wake dysregulation,

• autonomic Δs, emotionality

• hyperactive delirium and hypoactive delirium

• risk factor of delirium