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Which physical conditions can cause delirium?
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mental disorder
A discussion of the advances made in psychiatric research and treatment.
Delirium is an acute, temporary state of mental disturbance characterized by confusion and impaired consciousness. It is typically caused by physical disorders that affect the brain, either through direct structural disease or systemic dysfunction.123
Common physical causes include:
- Systemic conditions: Fever, heart failure, dehydration, and metabolic or biochemical imbalances.12
- Trauma: Physical injury, such as a blow to the head.1
- Substance-related factors: Overdose of sedatives, the abrupt withdrawal of barbiturates, or delirium tremens associated with alcoholism, which is often complicated by exhaustion and malnutrition.13
- Chronic disease: Delirium frequently occurs in patients with dementia. Other medical conditions such as thyroid disease, liver disease, epilepsy, Parkinson disease, and encephalitis are also associated with the onset of such symptoms.3
Recovery generally depends on addressing the underlying physical cause and the body's ability to repair any associated brain damage.1