Delirium, also known as acute confusional state, is an organically caused decline from a previously baseline level of mental function. It often varies in severity.
Table of contents
- What causes delirium?
- Delirium in the Elderly | Treatment of Delirium | Delirium Elderly
- Delirium in elderly adults: diagnosis, prevention and treatment
What causes delirium?
Your doctor will observe your symptoms and examine you to see if you can think, speak, and move normally. The doctor observes whether or not:. Many factors can cause changes in brain chemistry. Your doctor will try to determine the cause of the delirium by running tests relevant to your symptoms and medical history. One or more of the following tests may be needed to check for imbalances:.
Depending on the cause of the delirium, treatment may include taking or stopping certain medications. In older adults, an accurate diagnosis is important for treatment, as delirium symptoms are similar to dementia — but the treatments are very different. Your doctor will prescribe medications to treat the underlying cause of delirium.
For example, if your delirium is caused by a severe asthma attack, you might need an inhaler or breathing machine to restore your breathing. If a bacterial infection is causing the delirium symptoms, antibiotics may be prescribed. In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you stop drinking alcohol or stop taking certain medications such as codeine or other drugs that depress your system. Counseling is also used as a treatment for people whose delirium was brought on by drug or alcohol use.
In these cases, the treatment is to help the individual abstain from using the substances that brought on the delirium. In all cases, counseling is intended to make you comfortable and give you a safe place to discuss your thoughts and feelings. Full recovery from delirium is possible with the right treatment. It can take up to a few weeks for you to think, speak, and feel physically like your old self. You might have side effects from the medications used to treat this condition.
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Delirium in the Elderly | Treatment of Delirium | Delirium Elderly
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Low doses of antipsychotic medication should be given to help with frightening hallucinations or beliefs that people are trying to harm you. Any sedative medication should be given in the lowest possible dose for the shortest time possible. Delirium gets better when the cause is treated. You can recover very quickly, but it can take several days or weeks. People with dementia can take a particularly long time to get over delirium. You may not remember what has happened, particularly if you had memory problems beforehand.
However, you may be left with unpleasant and frightening memories — and even worry that you are going mad. It can be helpful to sit down with someone who can explain what happened. This might be a family member, a carer or your doctor. They can go through a diary of what happened each day.
You are more likely to have delirium again if you become medically unwell. Someone needs to keep an eye out for the warning signs that you are getting unwell again — whatever the original cause was. If they are worried they should get a doctor as soon as possible. If medical problems are treated early, this can prevent delirium from happening again. An organisation for health professionals and scientists involved with delirium. The website also has links to other websites that have information on delirium for health professionals, patients and carers.
Royal College of Physicians. The prevention, diagnosis and management of delirium in older people - national guidelines. Guidelines for health professionals working with people with delirium. People with dementia are more likely to also have delirium. Was this information useful?
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Be less aware of what is going on around you. Be unsure about where you are or what you are doing there. Be unable to follow a conversation or to speak clearly. Have vivid dreams, which are often frightening and may carry on when you wake up. Hear noises or voices when there is nothing or no one to cause them. Worry that other people are trying to harm you. Be very agitated or restless, unable to sit still and wandering about.
Be very slow or sleepy.
Sleep during the day, but wake up at night Have moods that change quickly. You can be frightened, anxious, depressed or irritable. Be more confused at some times than at others — often in the evening or at night. How can I help someone with delirium? You can help someone with delirium feel calmer and more in control if you: Talk to them in short, simple sentences.
Check that they have understood you. Repeat things if necessary. Remind them of what is happening and how they are doing.
Delirium in elderly adults: diagnosis, prevention and treatment
Remind them of the time and date. Make sure they can see a clock or a calendar. Listen to them and reassure them. Make sure they have their glasses and hearing aid. Help them to eat and drink. Try to make sure that someone they know well is with them. This is often most important during the evening, when confusion often gets worse. If they are in hospital, bring in some familiar objects from home. Have a light on at night so that they can see where they are if they wake up.