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{{Altered mental status}}
{{Altered mental status}}
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{PB}}
{{CMG}}; {{AE}}[[User:MoisesRomo|Moises Romo, M.D.]], {{PB}}
==Overview==
[[Altered mental status]], despite its frequency, the term is vague and has several synonyms such as [[confusion]], not acting right, confusional state, altered [[behavior]], [[generalized weakness]], [[lethargy]], [[agitation]], [[psychosis]], [[disorientation]], inappropriate [[behavior]], [[inattention]], and [[hallucination]]. Such lack of standardized terminology makes the assessment and appropriate management of patients with [[altered mental status]] difficult. It is important to ditinguish red flags, since [[acute]] [[altered mental status]] is a medical [[emergency]]. The first step in the evaluation of a patient with [[altered mental status]] is to establish the time course. [[Altered mental status]] may be classified as dementia, delirium, psychosis, and other [[neurological]] causes according to its origin.
==Classification==
 
*Altered mental status may be classified according to its origin into 4 major groups: [[dementia]], [[delirium]], [[psychosis]], and [[Neurology|neurologic]] causes.
 
===Dementia===


*[[Dementia]] is a slow and  progressive disorder characterized by [[cognitive]] decline beyond what might be expected from normal [[Ageing|aging]]. [[Dementia]] involves [[memory]] and at least 1 of the other domains, including [[personality]], praxis, [[Abstraction|abstract]] thinking, [[language]], [[executive functioning]], complex [[attention]], social and visuospatial skills.<ref name="pmid24084803">{{cite journal |vauthors=Buffington AL, Lipski DM, Westfall E |title=Dementia: an evidence-based review of common presentations and family-based interventions |journal=J Am Osteopath Assoc |volume=113 |issue=10 |pages=768–75 |date=October 2013 |pmid=24084803 |doi=10.7556/jaoa.2013.046 |url=}}</ref> Individuals usually present normal [[vital signs]], normal level of conscioussness. Several [[diseases]] may cause [[dementia]], being [[Alzheimer's disease]] the most common.<ref name="pmid24398425">{{cite journal |vauthors=Reitz C, Mayeux R |title=Alzheimer disease: epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, risk factors and biomarkers |journal=Biochem Pharmacol |volume=88 |issue=4 |pages=640–51 |date=April 2014 |pmid=24398425 |pmc=3992261 |doi=10.1016/j.bcp.2013.12.024 |url=}}</ref>


==Overview==
===Delirium===
Altered mental status is a common chief complaint among older emergency department (ED) patients. Despite the frequency of this complaint, the term “altered mental status” is vague and has several synonyms such as confusion, not acting right, altered behavior, generalized weakness, lethargy, agitation, psychosis, disorientation, inappropriate behavior, inattention, and hallucination. Such lack of standardized terminology not only hinders the assessment and appropriate management of patients with altered mental status.
 
==Classification==
*[[Delirium]] is an acute and relatively sudden (developing over hours to days) decline in [[attention]], [[Focusing|focus]], [[perception]], and [[cognition]] that usually appears in the elderly.<ref name="pmid30856524">{{cite journal |vauthors=Boltey EM, Iwashyna TJ, Hyzy RC, Watson SR, Ross C, Costa DK |title=Ability to predict team members' behaviors in ICU teams is associated with routine ABCDE implementation |journal=J Crit Care |volume=51 |issue= |pages=192–197 |date=June 2019 |pmid=30856524 |pmc=6625516 |doi=10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.02.028 |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid30853380">{{cite journal |vauthors=Airagnes G, Ducoutumany G, Laffy-Beaufils B, Le Faou AL, Limosin F |title=Alcohol withdrawal syndrome management: Is there anything new? |journal=Rev Med Interne |volume=40 |issue=6 |pages=373–379 |date=June 2019 |pmid=30853380 |doi=10.1016/j.revmed.2019.02.001 |url=}}</ref> The [[Clinical|clinical presentation]] may vary from [[hyperactive]] or hypoactive [[Psychomotor agitation|psychomotor]] behavioral disturbances. Hypoactive delirium is oftenly missdiagnosed with other disorders such as [[depression]]; the rapidly fluctuating time course of [[delirium]] is used to help in the latter distinction.<ref name="pmid30852930">{{cite journal |vauthors=Michels M, Michelon C, Damásio D, Vitali AM, Ritter C, Dal-Pizzol F |title=Biomarker Predictors of Delirium in Acutely Ill Patients: A Systematic Review |journal=J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=119–136 |date=May 2019 |pmid=30852930 |doi=10.1177/0891988719834346 |url=}}</ref>
Scales and terms to classify the levels of consciousness differ, but in general, reduction in response to stimuli indicates an altered level of consciousness:
 
{| class="wikitable"
===Psychosis===
|+ '''Levels of consciousness'''
 
! Level !! Summary !! Description
*[[Psychosis]] is a generic [[Psychiatry|psychiatric]] term for a [[Mental status examination|mental state]] that results in a loss of contact with reality.<ref name="pmid11448373">{{cite journal |vauthors=van Os J, Hanssen M, Bijl RV, Vollebergh W |title=Prevalence of psychotic disorder and community level of psychotic symptoms: an urban-rural comparison |journal=Arch Gen Psychiatry |volume=58 |issue=7 |pages=663–8 |date=July 2001 |pmid=11448373 |doi=10.1001/archpsyc.58.7.663 |url=}}</ref> [[Psychosis]] is a common characteristic to many [[psychiatric]], [[neuropsychiatric]], [[neurologic]], [[Neurodevelopmental Disorders|neurodevelopmental]], and other [[medical]] conditions.<ref name="pmid21418522">{{cite journal |vauthors=Jellinger KA |title=Cerebral correlates of psychotic syndromes in neurodegenerative diseases |journal=J Cell Mol Med |volume=16 |issue=5 |pages=995–1012 |date=May 2012 |pmid=21418522 |pmc=4365880 |doi=10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01311.x |url=}}</ref> It caused most of the times by fluctuations of [[neurotransmitters]] such as [[dopamine]], [[acetylcholine]], [[Gamma-aminobutyric acid|gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA)]], and [[glutamate]], which ultimately results in in high levels of [[distress]] and deterioration of normal social functioning.<ref name="pmid21999698">{{cite journal |vauthors=Fiorentini A, Volonteri LS, Dragogna F, Rovera C, Maffini M, Mauri MC, Altamura CA |title=Substance-induced psychoses: a critical review of the literature |journal=Curr Drug Abuse Rev |volume=4 |issue=4 |pages=228–40 |date=December 2011 |pmid=21999698 |doi=10.2174/1874473711104040228 |url=}}</ref>
|-
 
! [[Conscious]]
===Neurologic causes===
| Normal
 
| Assessment of LOC involves checking [[Orientation (mental)|orientation]]: people who are able promptly and spontaneously to state their name, location, and the date or time are said to be oriented to self, place, and time, or "oriented X3".<ref name="Kruse86">
*Some focal [[neurological]] deficits can produce changes in [[perception]], [[Psychomotor agitation|psychomotor]] skills or [[behavior]]. This group's presentation vary widely depending on the localization and  cause of impairment. Within this group there may be found subclassifications such as the levels of [[consciousness]] (confusional state, [[lethargy]], [[obtundation]], [[stupor]], [[coma]]), [[vegetative state]], [[Locked-In syndrome|locked-in syndrome]], and [[brain death]].<ref name="pmid24175169">{{cite journal |vauthors=Grover S, Kate N |title=Assessment scales for delirium: A review |journal=World J Psychiatry |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=58–70 |date=August 2012 |pmid=24175169 |pmc=3782167 |doi=10.5498/wjp.v2.i4.58 |url=}}</ref>
{{
cite book |author=Kruse MJ |title=Nursing the Neurological and Neurotrauma Patient |publisher=Rowman & Allanheld |location=Totowa, N.J |year=1986 |pages= 57&ndash;58 |isbn=0-8476-7451-7 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=
|url= http://books.google.com/?id=3BN3d2Ps8HAC&pg=PA57&dq=%22level+of+consciousness%22#PPA58,M1
}}
</ref> A normal [[sleep]] stage from which a person is easily awakened is also considered a normal level of consciousness. "Clouding of consciousness" is a term for a mild alteration of consciousness with alterations in attention and wakefulness.
|-
! Hyperalert
| Increased arousal and hypersensitivity
| Heightened arousal with hypersensitivity to immediate surroundings. Verbally and physically threatening, restless, aggressive<ref>{{Cite web  | last = | first = | title = Clinical Review: Delirium in older people | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1853193/ | publisher =  | date =  | accessdate = }}</ref>
|-
! [[Confusion]]
|Disoriented; impaired thinking and responses
| People who do not respond quickly with information about their name, location, and the time are considered "obtuse" or "[[confusion|confused]]".<ref name="Kruse86"/> A confused person may be bewildered, disoriented, and have difficulty following instructions.  The person may have slow thinking and possible memory time loss.  This could be caused by sleep deprivation, malnutrition, allergies, environmental pollution, drugs (prescription and nonprescription), and infection.  
|-
![[Delirium|Delirious]]
|Disoriented; restlessness, hallucinations, sometimes delusions
|Some scales have "delirious" below this level, in which a person may be restless or agitated and exhibit a marked deficit in [[attention]].
|-
![[Lethargy]]
| Reduced activity
| Reduced alertness with minimum interest in the surrounding.<ref>{{Cite web  | last = | first =  | title = http://www.clinpedemergencymed.com/article/S1522-8401(08)00024-4/abstract | url = http://www.clinpedemergencymed.com/article/S1522-8401(08)00024-4/abstract | publisher = | date = | accessdate = }}</ref>
|-
![[somnolence|Somnolent]]
| Sleepy
| A [[somnolence|somnolent]] <!--obtunded--> person shows excessive [[drowsiness]] and responds to stimuli only with incoherent mumbles or disorganized movements.<ref name="Kruse86"/>
|-
! [[obtundation]]
|Decreased alertness; slowed psychomotor responses
| In [[obtundation]], a person has a decreased interest in their surroundings, slowed responses, and sleepiness.
|-
! [[Stupor]]
| Sleep-like state (not unconscious); little/no spontaneous activity
|People with an even lower level of consciousness, stupor, only respond by [[Facial expression|grimacing]] or drawing away from painful stimuli.<ref name="Kruse86"/>  Stupors person can only be aroused by repeated and forceful stimuli, however they never attain their baseline level.<ref>{{Cite web  | last = | first = | title = Clinical policy for the initial approach to pa... [Ann Emerg Med. 1999] - PubMed - NCBI | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14765552 | publisher = | date = | accessdate = }}</ref>
|-
![[Coma]]
| Cannot be aroused; no response to stimuli
| Comatose people do not have response to stimuli, have no [[corneal reflex|corneal]] or [[gag reflex]], and they may have no [[pupillary response]] to light.<ref name="Kruse86"/>
|}


<br />
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}

Latest revision as of 03:02, 11 February 2021

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Moises Romo, M.D., Pratik Bahekar, MBBS [2]

Overview

Altered mental status, despite its frequency, the term is vague and has several synonyms such as confusion, not acting right, confusional state, altered behavior, generalized weakness, lethargy, agitation, psychosis, disorientation, inappropriate behavior, inattention, and hallucination. Such lack of standardized terminology makes the assessment and appropriate management of patients with altered mental status difficult. It is important to ditinguish red flags, since acute altered mental status is a medical emergency. The first step in the evaluation of a patient with altered mental status is to establish the time course. Altered mental status may be classified as dementia, delirium, psychosis, and other neurological causes according to its origin.

Classification

Dementia

Delirium

Psychosis

Neurologic causes


References

  1. Buffington AL, Lipski DM, Westfall E (October 2013). "Dementia: an evidence-based review of common presentations and family-based interventions". J Am Osteopath Assoc. 113 (10): 768–75. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2013.046. PMID 24084803.
  2. Reitz C, Mayeux R (April 2014). "Alzheimer disease: epidemiology, diagnostic criteria, risk factors and biomarkers". Biochem Pharmacol. 88 (4): 640–51. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2013.12.024. PMC 3992261. PMID 24398425.
  3. Boltey EM, Iwashyna TJ, Hyzy RC, Watson SR, Ross C, Costa DK (June 2019). "Ability to predict team members' behaviors in ICU teams is associated with routine ABCDE implementation". J Crit Care. 51: 192–197. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2019.02.028. PMC 6625516 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 30856524.
  4. Airagnes G, Ducoutumany G, Laffy-Beaufils B, Le Faou AL, Limosin F (June 2019). "Alcohol withdrawal syndrome management: Is there anything new?". Rev Med Interne. 40 (6): 373–379. doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2019.02.001. PMID 30853380.
  5. Michels M, Michelon C, Damásio D, Vitali AM, Ritter C, Dal-Pizzol F (May 2019). "Biomarker Predictors of Delirium in Acutely Ill Patients: A Systematic Review". J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 32 (3): 119–136. doi:10.1177/0891988719834346. PMID 30852930.
  6. van Os J, Hanssen M, Bijl RV, Vollebergh W (July 2001). "Prevalence of psychotic disorder and community level of psychotic symptoms: an urban-rural comparison". Arch Gen Psychiatry. 58 (7): 663–8. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.58.7.663. PMID 11448373.
  7. Jellinger KA (May 2012). "Cerebral correlates of psychotic syndromes in neurodegenerative diseases". J Cell Mol Med. 16 (5): 995–1012. doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01311.x. PMC 4365880. PMID 21418522.
  8. Fiorentini A, Volonteri LS, Dragogna F, Rovera C, Maffini M, Mauri MC, Altamura CA (December 2011). "Substance-induced psychoses: a critical review of the literature". Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 4 (4): 228–40. doi:10.2174/1874473711104040228. PMID 21999698.
  9. Grover S, Kate N (August 2012). "Assessment scales for delirium: A review". World J Psychiatry. 2 (4): 58–70. doi:10.5498/wjp.v2.i4.58. PMC 3782167. PMID 24175169.

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