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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffDelirium occurs when the normal sending and receiving of signals in the brain becomes impaired. This impairment is most likely caused by a combination of factors that make the brain vulnerable and factors that trigger a malfunction in brain activity.
Factors that may make people more vulnerable to the development of delirium include:
- Dementia
- Older age
- Limited ability to perform everyday activities
- Visual or hearing impairment
- Poor nutrition or dehydration
- Severe, chronic or terminal illness
- Multiple medical problems
- HIV/AIDS
- Treatment with multiple drugs
- Alcohol or drug abuse
Factors that are common triggers for delirium in vulnerable people include:
- Medications
- Multiple medications
- Surgery
- Sudden, severe illness
- Infection
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Use of recreational drugs
- Alcohol or drug withdrawal
- Emotional stress
- Multiple medical procedures
- Admission to intensive care
A number of medications can act as triggers of delirium, particularly:
- Sleep medications
- Narcotic pain relievers
- Antidepressants
- Parkinson's disease treatments
- Drugs for treating spasms or convulsions
- Allergy medications
- 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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