delirium

Question 1

definition of delirium

Answer 1

change in attention or awareness that develops over a short period of time, represents a change from baseline and tends to fluctuate in severity throughout the course of the day

Question 2

3 causes of pure hypoactive delirium

Answer 2

decreased perfusion
elevated ammonia
elevated urea

Question 3

2 causes of pure hyperactive delirium

Answer 3

etoh and bzd w/d

Question 4

stress-vulnerability model

Answer 4

explains why elderly are at higher risk for delirium- medical illness superimposed on a vulnerable brain

Question 5

one of the biggest risk factors for developing delirium

Answer 5

pre-existing neurocognitive disorder (70%)

Question 6

medications that can contribute to delirium

Answer 6

anticholinergic medications

Question 7

temporal course of delirium

Answer 7

acute onset, fluctuating symptom severity

Question 8

ACH in delirium

Answer 8

decreased cholinergic activity leads to deficits

Question 9

DA in delirium

Answer 9

DA agonists may induce delirium

DA antagonists may be used to treat

Question 10

what is the best clue to causality?

Answer 10

onset

Question 11

MMSE score that indicates delirium

Answer 11

under 24

Question 12

gold standard medication treatment for delirium

Answer 12

haloperidol

Question 13

anticholinergic toxicity (5)

Answer 13

hot as a hare
dry as a bone
red as a beet 
blind as a bat
mad as a hatter