Delirium Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Diagnostic Criteria and Subtypes

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🧠 Definition: Delirium is an acute disturbance in attention and awareness, accompanied by a change in cognition.
• ⏱️ Onset: Develops over a short period (usually hours to days) and tends to fluctuate during the course of the day.
• 📝 Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5):
  • A. Disturbance in attention and awareness.
  • B. The disturbance develops over a short period of time and represents a change from baseline.
  • C. An additional disturbance in cognition (e.g., memory deficit, disorientation, language, visuospatial ability, or perception).
  • D. The disturbances in criteria A and C are not better explained by another pre-existing, established or evolving neurocognitive disorder.
  • E. There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the disturbance is a direct physiological consequence of another medical condition, substance intoxication or withdrawal, or exposure to a toxin, or is due to multiple etiologies.
• 🔄 Fluctuating Course: Symptoms may worsen or improve throughout the day.
• ⚠️ Common Causes: Infections, medication side effects, metabolic imbalances, and substance withdrawal.
• 📊 Subtypes:
  • Hyperactive: Increased psychomotor activity, agitation, and/or aggression.
  • Hypoactive: Decreased psychomotor activity, sluggishness, and drowsiness.
  • Mixed: Fluctuations between hyperactive and hypoactive states.
• 📏 Assessment Tools: Commonly assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM).

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the MOST essential diagnostic criterion for delirium, according to the DSM-5?
   1. A. Prominent memory impairment
   2. B. Fluctuating disturbance in attention and awareness
   3. C. Presence of hallucinations
   4. D. Gradual decline in cognitive function
2. A patient in the hospital suddenly becomes agitated, disoriented, and starts hallucinating. These symptoms developed over the past 24 hours. This presentation is MOST suggestive of:
   1. A. Dementia
   2. B. Schizophrenia
   3. C. Delirium
   4. D. Depression
3. Which of the following is a common cause of delirium?
   1. A. Chronic stress
   2. B. Medication side effects
   3. C. Early childhood trauma
   4. D. Personality disorders
4. A patient with hypoactive delirium is MOST likely to present with:
   1. A. Agitation and restlessness
   2. B. Increased alertness and hyperactivity
   3. C. Drowsiness and lethargy
   4. D. Rapid speech and pressured thinking
5. The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is used to assess:
   1. A. Personality traits
   2. B. Delirium
   3. C. Intelligence quotient (IQ)
   4. D. Long-term memory
6. Which subtype of delirium involves fluctuations between periods of increased activity and decreased activity?
   1. A. Hyperactive
   2. B. Hypoactive
   3. C. Mixed
   4. D. Unspecified
7. A key differentiating factor between delirium and dementia is:
   1. A. Impairment in memory
   2. B. Disturbance in language
   3. C. Acute onset and fluctuating course
   4. D. Presence of delusions