Mental Confusion Information
Confusion (from Latin confusĭo, -ōnis, noun of action from confundere "to pour together", also "to confuse") of a pathological degree usually refers to loss of orientation (ability to place oneself correctly in the world by time,[1] location,[1] and/or personal identity[1]) sometimes accompanied by disordered consciousness[1] and often memory (ability to correctly recall previous events or learn new material). Confusion as such is not synonymous with inability to focus attention, although severe inability to focus attention can cause, or greatly contribute to, confusion. Together, confusion and inability to focus attention (both of which affect judgment) are the twin symptoms of a loss or lack of normal brain function (mentation).
Confusion may result from a relatively sudden brain dysfunction. Acute confusion is often called delirium (also called acute confusional state[2]), although delirium also includes a broader array of disorders than confusion, e.g. inability to focus attention and various impairments in awareness and temporal and spatial orientation.
Confusion may also result from chronic organic brain pathologies such as dementia. In either case, confusion is usually associated with some degree of loss of ability to focus attention, but (as noted) the association is not invariable, especially for lesser degrees of impairment.
Signs and symptoms
Confusion is a symptom, and it may range from mild to severe. The confused state may include jumbled or disorganized thought and unusual, bizarre, or aggressive behaviors. A person who is confused may have difficulty solving problems or tasks, especially those known to have been previously easy for the person and an inability to recognize family members or familiar objects, or to give approximate location of family members not present. As well, they may appear to be disoriented, drowsy, hyperactive, or anxious. In severe cases, the person may have hallucinations, feelings of paranoia, and a state of delirium.
Differential diagnosis
The most common causes of drug induced acute confusion are dopaminergic drugs used for Parkinson's disease, diuretics, tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines. The elderly and especially those with pre-existing dementia are at most risk for drug induced acute confusional states.[3]
New research is finding a link between Vitamin D deficiencies and cognitive impairment which includes memory loss and a foggy brain.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d thefreedictionary.com > confusion (redirected from mental confusion) Citing: Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc.
- ^ patient.co.uk > Acute Confusional State Writer: Dr Gurvinder Rull. Document ID: 1714. Document Version: 22. Document Reference: bgp2104. Last Updated: 13 Jan 2009
- ^ Hufschmidt, A.; Shabarin, V.; Zimmer, T. (Dec 2009). "Drug-induced confusional states: the usual suspects?". Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 120 (6): 436–8. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0404.2009.01174.x. PMID 19804475.
- ^ Third Age Vitamin D Deficiency
External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Confusion |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Categories:
- Symptoms and signs: Cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour
- Neurological disorders
- Cognition
- Emotions
|
)
620px x 986px | 64.20kB
[source page]
Picture worth a thousand words http wordnetweb princeton edu perl webwn s=disarray S n confusion mental confusion confusedness muddiness disarray a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly
Wed, 04 May 2011 07:51:22 -0700
... etc., can contribute greatly to disrupting an elderly person's mental wellness. When these different factors manifest themselves in very pronounced ways, it can be quite disorienting and can prompt confusion , irritability, pain, loss of energy and, ...