What is delirium characterized by?

Delirium is primarily characterized by a disturbance in attention and awareness. This condition often manifests with a sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and an inability to focus, leading to significant impairment in cognitive functions. Patients may appear distracted and struggle to engage with their environment or the people around them. The disturbance in attention can fluctuate throughout the day, which is a hallmark feature of delirium, distinguishing it from other cognitive disorders.

In addition to changes in attention, delirium often includes a change in consciousness, such as being drowsy or agitated. This makes it critical for healthcare providers to properly assess and identify delirium in patients, especially in palliative care settings, where prompt recognition and intervention can significantly impact the quality of care and patient outcomes.

While severe emotional grief, physical pain, and loss of appetite can be associated with various conditions, they do not define delirium. Grief relates more to emotional responses, pain is a separate symptom that can exist independently of cognitive disturbances, and loss of appetite is generally a sign of illness rather than a defining feature of delirium itself. Thus, the description of delirium as a disturbance in attention and awareness captures the essence of what differentiates it from other symptoms or conditions in palliative care