Delirium Summary Delirium is a condition that features rapidly changing mental states. It causes confusion and changes in behavior. Besides falling in and out of consciousness, there may be problems with Attention and awareness Thinking and memory Emotion Muscle control Sleeping and waking Causes of delirium include medications, poisoning, serious illnesses or infections, and severe pain. It can also be part of some mental illnesses or dementia. Delirium and dementia have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart. They can also occur together. Delirium starts suddenly and can cause hallucinations. The symptoms may get better or worse, and can last for hours or weeks. On the other hand, dementia develops slowly and does not cause hallucinations. The symptoms are stable, and may last for months or years. Delirium tremens is a serious type of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It usually happens to people who stop drinking after years of alcohol abuse. People with delirium often, though not always, make a full recovery after their underlying illness is treated. Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Delirium National Institutes of Health Patient Handouts Delirium Delirium tremens Resources Delirium Merck & Co., Inc. Delirium (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Delirium (PDQ) National Cancer Institute Delirium: Issues for Older Adults AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Find a Neurologist American Academy of Neurology National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke The Dilemma of Delirium in Older Patients National Institute on Aging What to Ask: Delirium AGS Foundation for Health in Aging NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Delirium Research: Where Am I? Digging into the Mysteries of Delirium Impact of Delirium Journal Articles Delirium Latest News Antipsychotics Don’t Ease Delirium in Hospitalized Patients HealthDay
