Lewy Body Dementia Prognosis

Dementia and delirium

  

Introduction:

Organic The term "mental disorder syndrome" in psychiatry is used when there is a "disease of the body" that psychiatric symptoms. In contrast, "functional mental disorders are considered" mental illnesses ". The classification of psychiatric disorders in this way has become obsolete now that more is known about the "organic" basis of functional diseases, such as abnormal brain structure in schizophrenia. However, the term "organic" is still commonly used in clinical practice and communication and is included in the ICD 10.

In the next section we will focus on two "organic disorders" function and cognitive effect. Other organic disorders, for example:

• Organic hallucinosis
• organic delusional disorder
• Organic mood disorders
• Organic anxiety

Do not be mentioned here because they have roughly similar to their "functional" counterpart  

Delirium and dementia:

In both delirium and dementia, there is a widespread alteration in brain function that causes a lack of overall cognitive function and mood and behavior changed. The difference between the two is that the delirium is a syndrome characterized by fluctuating levels of consciousness and attention, so that dementia is a chronic syndrome that occurs in clear consciousness without rapid fluctuations. Both conditions are more common in the elderly, but the diagnosis should be considered in any patient with a generalized impairment of brain function.

1. Delirium:

Delirium is more likely to occur in children, the elderly and persons with brain insult when the brain is "vulnerable. People with dementia are particularly at risk and it is always important to eliminate superimposed delirium if the cognitive function of people with dementia deteriorates seriously. Another high-risk group of people are admitted to Ward-medical studies have found evidence that 15-50% of delirium.

The characteristics of delirium are summarized and contrasted with typical symptoms of dementia in a table below.

Management of delirium:

The main objective is to study and treat the underlying cause. Among the causes of delirium are:

• Drugs: anticholinergics, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, digoxin, corticosteroids, alcohol, solvents, illicit drugs
• Infection
• Endocrine: hypoglycemia, hyperparathyroidism, Addison's disease, thyroid disease.
• Metabolic: electrolyte imbalance, hypoxia, organ failure, deficiency of vitamins (particularly thiamine), prophyria.
• Neurological: infection, like encephalitis or meningitis, intracranial hypertension, space occupying lesions, head injuries, epilepsy.

While trying to find the underlying cause primary, it will be necessary to manage the symptomatic patient.

• a˜ The patient should be treated in a well lit by as many people as possible to reduce confusion.
• a˜ sedation with low doses of antipsychotic drugs may be necessary (advisor must have knowledge of prescribed medication (side effect, metabolism, and life, etc. mix half)
• a˜ Direct the patient to gently soothe and use evidence to indicate the time of day (window, clock). Avoid excessive "call" if that causes the patient distress.

2. Dementia

Dementia is a chronic progressive disease is usually a general lack of brain function. The increased risk with age: 5%> 65 years and 20%> 80

Typical symptoms of dementia include:

• Memory (amnesia):
  Posted on February 12, 2010.
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