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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffDelirium is a serious disturbance in a person's mental abilities that results in a decreased awareness of one's environment and confused thinking. The onset of delirium is usually sudden, often within hours or a few days.
Delirium can usually be traced to one or more contributing factors, such as a severe or chronic medical illness, medication, surgery, or drug or alcohol abuse.
The symptoms of delirium and dementia are similar, and input from a family member or caregiver may be important for a doctor to make a diagnosis.
- Delirium. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Inouye SK. Delirium in older persons. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;354:1157.
- Gleason OC. Delirium. American Family Physician. 2003;67:1027.
- Saxena S, et al. Delirium in the elderly: A clinical review. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 2009;85:405.
- Francis J, et al. Diagnosis of delirium and confusional states. http://www.uptodate.com/index.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2009.
- Potter J, et al. The prevention, diagnosis and management of delirium in older people: Concise guidelines. Clinical Medicine. 2006;6:303.
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