Delirium vs. Dementia (copy)

Onset of Delerium?

Sudden, with a definite beginning point

Onset of Dementia?

Slow and Gradual, with an uncertain beginning point

Duration of Delirium?

Days to weeks, could be longer.

Duration of Dementia?

Usually permanent

Causes of Delirium?

Almost always another condition:

Infection

Dehydration

Drug use or withdrawals

Causes of Dementia?

Usually a chronic brain disorder:

Alzheimers disease

Dementia W/ Lewy bodies

Vascular dementia

Course of Delirium?

Usually reversible

Course of Dementia?

Slowly progressive

Deleriums effects at night?

Almost always worse

Dementias effects at night?

Often worse

Patients attention W/ Delirium?

Greatly Impaired

Patients attention W/ Dementia?

Unimpaired until Dementia has become severe.

L.O.C. W/ Delirium?

Variably Impaired

L.O.C. W/ Dementia?

Unimpaired until Dementia has become severe.

Patients orientation to time and place W/ Delirium?

Varies

Patients orientation to time and place W/ Dementia?

Impaired

Delirium: Use of language?

Slow, often incoherent, and inappropriate.

Dementia: Use of language?

Sometimes difficulty finding the right word.

Delirium: Memory?

Varies

Dementia: Memory?

Lost, especially for recent events.

Delirium: Need for Medical attention?

Immediate

Dementia: Need for Medical attention?

Required but less urgently than delirium

Delirium: effect of treatments?

Usually reverses symptoms

Dementia:effect of treatments?

May slow progression but cannot reverse or cure the disorder.