Symptoms of Delirium

The signs and symptoms of delirium tend to chop and change quickly and move rapidly between different mental states. Symptoms occur for short periods of time (between a few hours to a few days) and can fluctuate in terms of severity throughout the day. There may also be periods where there are no symptoms. Common signs and symptoms of delirium include:

Lack of attention / disrupted attention
Inability to think in a focused manner
Disorganized thoughts
Incoherent speech
Speech that is rambling or nonsensical
Inability to stop behaviors or speech
Difficulty in understanding what is being said
Difficulty reading or writing
Confusion about place and time
Constant changes in perception and sensations
Changes in levels of consciousness
Drowsiness
Incontinence
Changes in alertness - people tend to feel more alert in the morning and less so at night
Loss or impairment of short-term memory
Inability to recall things from the past (especially events after delirium set in)
Retrograde amnesia
Psycho-motor restlessness
Changes in motion (suddenly moving slowly to rapid movements)
Feelings of anxiety, depression, apathy, anger, irritability, and euphoria
Changes in personality
Hallucinations
Aggressive behavior
Disturbed sleep
Extreme emotions

If a person shows any signs of delirium, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. The input of family and friends and the listing of all possible signs and symptoms are essential for the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis.

Causes

Diagnosis