Mental confusion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ICD-10 | R41.0 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 780.0 |
Severe confusion of a degree considered pathological usually refers to loss of orientation (ability to place oneself correctly in the world by time, location, and personal identity), and often memory (ability to correctly recall previous events or learn new materal). Confusion as such is not synonymous with inability to focus attention, although severe inability to focus attention can cause, or greatly contribute to, confusion. Together, confusion and inability to focus attention (both of which affect judgement) are the twin symptoms of a loss or lack of normal brain function (mentation).
Confusion may result from a relatively sudden brain dysfunction (see delirium). It may also result from chronic organic brain pathologies such as dementia. In either case, confusion is usually associated with some degree of loss of ability to focus attention, but (as noted) the association is not invariable, especially for lesser degress of impairment.
Many health problems may cause the syndromes of delirium or dementia. These syndromes may also occur together, and both of them usually include the symptom of confusion. Since mental function is extremely sensitive to health, the appearance of either a new confused state, or a new loss of ability to focus attention (delirium), may indicate that a new physical or mental illness has appeared, or that a chronic physical or mental illness has progressed (become more severe).
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[edit] Possible causes
Confusion, like inability to focus attention, is a very general and nonspecific symptom of brain or mental dysfunction. In addition to many organic causes of confusion relating to a structural defect or a metabolic problem in the brain (analogous to hardware problems in a computer), there are also some psychiatric causes of confusion, which may also include a component of mental or emotional stress, mental disease, or other "programming" problems (analogous to software problems in a computer).
Causes of confusion are too many to list by specific pathology. However general categories of possible causes of mental confusion include:
[edit] Gross structural brain disorders
- Head trauma (i.e., concussion, traumatic bleeding, penetrating injury, etc.)
- Gross structural damage from brain disease (stroke, spontaneous bleeding, tumor, etc.)
[edit] Neurological disorders
- Various neurological disorders
[edit] General metabolic causes
- Lack of sleep
- Body temperature problems (hypothermia, heat stroke)
- Infection (sometimes independently of fever)
- Nutritional deficiency
- Allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases
[edit] Circulatory
[edit] Lack of essential metabolic fuels, nutrients, etc.
- Hypoxia,
- Hypoglycemia
- Electrolyte imbalance (dehydration, water intoxication)
[edit] Toxication
- Intoxication various drugs, alcohol, anesthetics
- Poisons (including carbon monoxide and metabolic blockade)
- Medications including psychotropic medications
[edit] Mental illness
[edit] Psychological stressors
- Distraction
- Emotional shock (great fear, grief, anger, etc.)
[edit] Possible co-existing symptoms
Confusion is a symptom. It may range from mild to severe. The confused state may include also:
- Jumbled or disorganized thought
- Unusual, bizarre, or aggressive behavior
- Difficulty solving problems
- Difficulty performing tasks that used to be simple for the person
- Inability to identify whereabouts or recognize family members or familiar objects
- Illusions
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Disorientation
- Inability to focus attention (see delirium)
- Drowsiness
- Abnormal sleeplessness and hyperactivity
[edit] Cures
Confusion is a symptom, like shortness of breath or pain. Like other symptoms, the cure relates to the underlying cause.
