In persons with diabetes mellitus (n= 37), we found hypoglycaemia in 11 persons (29.7%) followed by nonhaemorrhagic stroke in 7 persons (18.9%) as the cause of
acute confusional state.
In these 59 patients, the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations were a headache (56%),
acute confusional state (46%), seizure disorder (29%), and cerebrovascular disease (25%).
Different types of psychiatric syndromes have been described and included psychosis, depression,
acute confusional state, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction and mood disorder.
A 50-year-old woman, known to have been recently diagnosed with advanced colonic carcinoma, and on palliative therapy, presented with an
acute confusional state and associated seizures.
His acidosis worsened to a nadir of pH 6.97 and he developed an
acute confusional state with marked agitation for which titrated IV doses of diazepam and haloperidol were administered.
Lesley also co-authored, together with Nages Negaratnam and Gary Cheuk, the article '
Acute confusional state in patients with and without dementia', in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 29 (1999) 139-147.
The reported clinical features include generalised convulsions,
acute confusional state, psychosis, tremors, cerebellar ataxia, motor aphasia, and generalised myoclonus (2,3).
Faecal impaction may also cause an
acute confusional state and abdominal pain [13].
Other manifestations of patients with single ring enhancing CT lesions were hemiplegia (9.61%), headache due to raised intracranial pressure (7.69%), crural monoparesis (7.69%),
acute confusional state (7.69%), Broca's aphasia (5.76%) and Broca's aphasia with upper limb weakness (3.85%).
Major Finding: Following exclusions of non-SLE-related causes of neuropsychiatric problems, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressives are indicated for neuropsychiatric SLE manifestations that reflect an immune or inflammatory process, including
acute confusional state, aseptic meningitis, myelitis, psychosis, and cranial and peripheral neuropathies.
Brain damage associated with dementia also places these patients at risk for delirium or
acute confusional state, further increasing disorientation and confusion.
Delirium is a temporary and acute state of confusion, also referred to as an
acute confusional state. The American Psychiatric Association identifies delirium as a transient organic mental syndrome characterised by a reduced Level of consciousness, reduced ability to focus, perceptual disturbances and memory impairment.