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Is there associated fever? Delirium with fever may simply indicate a self-limited infectious process, but it should bring to mind encephalitis and meningitis as well as cerebral abscess and cerebral hemorrhage.
Is there a history of trauma ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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Is there a history of drug or alcohol ingestion? Hallucinations are common during alcohol withdrawal but also may be noted in cocaine addiction, marijuana addiction, LSD intoxication, and PCP intoxication.
Are ... DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
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An acute confusional state caused by a disturbance in global cortical function. Features include disturbance of consciousness, change in cognition, fluctuations of symptoms, and evidence that the condition is secondary to an underlying medical condition. Frequently, multiple... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Hallucinations are psychotic symptoms in which patients perceive stimuli that do not exist. Any of the five senses (auditory, visual, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory) may be involved, with auditory hallucinations being the most common. Patients may believe the hallucinations to be true... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Delirium is an alteration in consciousness that can be associated with hallucinations, disorientation, and delusions. Normal thought processes are altered, including judgment, and rational behavior may be lost. Causes are typically metabolic derangements, acute infections, or... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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Hallucinations are defined as perceptual experiences that do not occur in reality. They may be auditory (most common), visual, tactile, or olfactory.
Differential Diagnosis
... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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... The differential diagnosis of delirium is very similar to that for coma and one finds the mnemonic VINDICATE useful in this regard.
V—Vascular disorders of the brain including hemorrhage, embolism, thrombosis, and arteriosclerosis may cause delirium.
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... A hallucination is seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, or tasting something that is not there. Auditory hallucinations without evidence of mental deterioration usually indicate schizophrenia, but epilepsy, drug toxicity, and brain tumors must be excluded.
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... Halo vision refers to seeing rainbowlike, colored rings around lights or bright objects. This effect can be explained by this physical principle: As light passes through water (in the eye, through tears or the cells of various anteretinal media), it breaks up... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations
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... Psychotic behavior reflects an inability or unwillingness to recognize and acknowledge reality and to relate with others. It may begin suddenly or insidiously, progressing from vague complaints of fatigue, insomnia, or headaches to withdrawal,... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Pictures
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... A complex partial seizure occurs when a focal seizure begins in the temporal lobe and causes a partial alteration of consciousness — usually confusion. Psychomotor seizures can occur at any age, but their incidence usually increases during adolescence and... History ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers
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... Halo vision refers to seeing rainbowlike colored rings around lights or bright objects. The rainbowlike effect can be explained by this physical principle: As light passes through water (in the eye, through tears or the cells of various... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers
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... Psychotic behavior reflects an inability or unwillingness to recognize and acknowledge reality and to relate with others. It may begin suddenly or insidiously, progressing from vague complaints of fatigue, insomnia, or headache to withdrawal, social isolation, and... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Pictures
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... A complex partial seizure occurs when a focal seizure begins in the temporal lobe and causes a partial alteration of consciousness—usually confusion. Psychomotor seizures can occur at any age, but incidence usually increases during adolescence... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers
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... Linda P. Shields
Delirium, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition criterion (1), is a condition involving an acute confusional state recognized by the patient’s change in... Approach. ... History ... Physical examination. ... Testing ... Diagnostic assessment.
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... Differential Overview
Systemic
❑ Drugs/toxins
❑ Sepsis
❑ Hypoglycemia
❑ Hypercalcemia ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures
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... Halo vision refers to seeing rainbowlike, colored rings around lights or bright objects. Halo vision usually develops suddenly; its duration depends on the causative disorder. This symptom may occur with disorders associated with excessive tearing... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Geriatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Psychotic behavior reflects an inability or unwillingness to recognize and acknowledge reality and to relate with others. It may begin suddenly or insidiously, progressing from vague complaints of fatigue, insomnia, or headache to withdrawal, social... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... A complex partial seizure occurs when a focal seizure begins in the temporal lobe and causes a partial alteration of consciousness — usually confusion. Psychomotor seizures can occur at any age, but incidence usually increases during adolescence and adulthood... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Halo vision refers to seeing rainbowlike, colored rings around lights or bright objects. This effect can be explained by the physical principle that as light passes through water (in the eye, through tears or the cells of various anteretinal... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
... READ EXCERPTS »
... Psychotic behavior reflects an inability or unwillingness to recognize and acknowledge reality and to relate with others. It may begin suddenly or insidiously, progressing from vague complaints of fatigue, insomnia, or headaches to withdrawal, social isolation, and... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
... READ EXCERPTS »
... A complex partial seizure occurs when a focal seizure begins in the temporal lobe and causes a partial alteration of consciousness—usually confusion. Psychomotor seizures can occur at any age, but their incidence usually increases during adolescence and adulthood.... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
... READ EXCERPTS »
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The differential diagnosis of delirium is very similar to that for
coma, and one finds the mnemonic VINDICATE useful in this regard.
V—Vascular disorders of the brain including hemorrhage, embolism,
thrombosis, and arteriosclerosis may cause
... READ EXCERPTS »
...
A hallucination is seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, or tasting
something that is not there. Auditory hallucinations without evidence of
mental deterioration usually indicate schizophrenia, but epilepsy, drug
toxicity, and brain tumors must be excluded.
... READ EXCERPTS »
Schizophrenia affects 2.5 million people in the United States alone, but few people know anything about the disease and its symptoms. Listen as our...
With the distorted understanding that comes with schizophrenia comes drastic changes in relationships with other people, from close friends to people...
Schizophrenia is a disease that can have devastating effects on a person's ability to function effectively in his or her world. Though there is...
Adherence to medication is important in the treatment of schizophrenia. Listen to experts describe strategies that may help people take their...