diagnostic criteria for delirium (DSM III,IV)

Introduction

Disturbance of consciousness with reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention

Disorganized thinking: rambling, irrelevant or incoherent speech

At least 2 of the following:

• reduced level of consciousness
• perceptual disturbances
  • misinterpretations
  • illusions
  • hallucinations
• disturbances in sleep-wakefulness
  • insomnia
  • daytime sleepiness
• increased or decreased psychomotor activity
• disorientation to person, place or time
• memory impairment
• language disturbance

Abrupt onset of symptoms (hours or days).

Fluctuation of symptoms over the course of a day.

Either one of the following:

• evidence from history, physical examination, or laboratory tests of a specific organic etiologic factor
• exclusion of nonorganic mental disorders when no etiologic organic factor can be determined; e.g. depression as a cause of cognitive disturbance

More general terms

• criteria

Additional terms

• delirium (acute confusional state)
• Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)