What is delirium?

Brain failure: Icu psychosis and brain failure are synonyms. It is more common in the elderly. . It is a state of mind where the patient develops veritable levels of confusion, memory loss and disorientation to time, place and person. It can be associated with hallucinations. Caused by an insult to the brain i.e. Medication, metabolic , other systemic diseases . It is important to treat.

Delirium: Delirium is with acute onset & change in level of consciousness.

It is an: Acute confusional state that can be caused by more than 60 reasons. The diagnosis is often difficult to make. It is characterized in a typical case by a waxing and waning level of consciousness. A search should be undertaken to determine the likely cause. Treatment of the delirium revolves around treating the underlying cause.

Acute Brain Failure: We believe delirium occurs when the brain cannot maintain its normal activities when overwhelmed by metabolic demands or other variables which exceed the brain's capacity to compensate for. Brains with less reserve capacity are particularly vulnerable. Not entirely unlike acute heart failure. See my last textbook chapter for more reading in the appi textbook of psychiatry (5th ed).

Attention deficits: Delirium usually refers to a severe increase in confusion with behavior changes. the central and most severe deficit is in attention and awareness of surroundingS. It often occurs with severe illness or drug overdose/withdrawal. It is also called encephalopathy or acute confusional state. Sleep disturbance is a key feature. There are other symptoms that also occur.