Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMedical DefinitionSymptomsCausesAs a Side EffectTreatmentComplicationsWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Medical Definition
Symptoms
Causes
As a Side Effect
Treatment
Complications
When to Seek Care
Confusion is a common cause of hospital admission, occurring in 5% to 10% of adult emergency room visits.Sometimes, confusion comes on gradually, such as with the development of dementia. Other times, confusion occurs suddenly and in response to an immediate medical problem.
This article discusses medical terminology related to confusion and its symptoms, causes, treatment, complications, and related issues.
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Medical Definition of Confusion
Medical terminology around the word “confusion” can be complicated and inconsistent. Here are some ways you may hear healthcare providers refer to confusion:
A Word From Verywell
—RENEE NILAN, MD
Symptoms of Confusion
“Confusion” isn’t a diagnosis or a clear-cut medical category, but most people intuitively understand what it means. Confusion is a way to describe a symptom or group of symptoms.
Symptoms that can occur with confusion include:
People who are confused because of a medical issue often have other symptoms. For example, they may not be able to pay attention as easily, or they might be sleepy and hard to rouse.These additional signs can give healthcare providers clues about the cause.
Recognizing Signs in Someone Else
Recognizing confusion in others is straightforward when symptoms are severe. Signs include beingdisorientedand not knowing their name, where they are, or the correct month and year.
However, signs of confusion from a medical condition are more subtle and can be mistaken for signs of normalaging. When assessing whether someone else has signs of confusion, consider the following questions:
Cognitive Decline Symptoms in Young and Older Adults
What Causes Confusion
To determine the cause of confusion, it can help to consider the short- and long-term issues related to the symptom.
Confusion from Short-Term Problems
Various medical situations can cause confusion and other symptoms that begin more rapidly (hours to days). Some noteworthy examples are:
Confusion From Long-Term Medical Conditions
Confusion can result from various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia. Some forms may be reversible, such as dementia from B12 deficiency or a thyroid hormone imbalance.
An episode of psychosis can also cause profound confusion from a mental health condition such as bipolar depression or schizophrenia.
Some factors increase the risk of confusion from an immediate medical problem. These include:
People who already have dementia or mild cognitive impairment are also at higher risk of episodes of delirium, which can temporarily worsen their baseline confusion.In many cases, multiple issues contribute to a person’s confusion.
Confusion as a Medication Side Effect
Medications often cause confusion, especially in older individuals taking multiple drugs with combined side effects. A selection of such drugs include the following:
This isn’t a complete list. Talk to a healthcare provider about whether certain medications may contribute to confusion in you or someone you care for. Do not stop taking any prescribed medications without consulting a healthcare provider.
How to Improve Confusion
It’s essential to receive a diagnosis and treatment for any underlying medical issues causing confusion. For example, this might mean receiving an antibiotic for an infection, fluids and electrolytes for an electrolyte imbalance, or antipsychotic medications for someone experiencing psychosis from a mental health disorder.
In dementia, symptoms like confusion and agitation may occur in the afternoon or late evening (called “sundowning"). Other support professionals, like occupational therapists, are often a great source of ideas and tools to help reduce confusion during these times and throughout the day.
For example, some of the following might help:
Complications of Worsening Confusion
Complications of worsening confusion are often the result of an inability to care for oneself.
When someone experiences confusion from delirium, they may act in ways that make their condition worse (e.g., not drinking fluids and becoming dehydrated). When in a delirious state, they may not seek the medical attention that they need, which can worsen their medical problem and make it harder to treat.
Complications can also arise in people with long-term conditions, leading to increased confusion. They may become unable to care for themselves, skipping meals or medications, not performing needed chores, missing appointments, and making unwise financial decisions.
Ultimately, a condition like Alzheimer’s increases the risk of complications that may be indirectly related to confusion, likeincontinence, infections likepneumonia, dehydration,falls,constipation, and foot and dental problems.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
If you notice confusion in a loved one that’s come on relatively quickly, seek immediate medical attention. They may have another medical problem that needs treatment, like a urinary tract infection or a stroke. Some people may experience fever or muscle weakness alongside confusion.Someone with dementia whose symptoms are suddenly worse than their baseline needs prompt medical attention.
People with gradually increasing confusion should schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. A provider can perform a full assessment or refer them to a specialist to get a correct diagnosis and treatment. You should especially seek medical attention for confusion that seems to be progressively worsening or any confusion that is interfering with daily life.
Summary
Confusion is a common medical symptom, especially for older individuals, and it’s one of the most common reasons for hospitalization. It isn’t a specific medical condition but can occur as a temporary or more long-term symptom in various situations.
Confusion that begins relatively suddenly is a potential medical emergency. However, if a loved one is gradually becoming confused more often, they also need medical attention. A specialist can help diagnose a possible disease and form a multidisciplinary treatment approach to reduce confusion and improve overall quality of life.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.LaHue SC, Douglas VC.Approach to altered mental status and inpatient delirium.Neurol Clin. 2022;40(1):45-57. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2021.08.004Iglseder B, Frühwald T, Jagsch C.Delirium in geriatric patients.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2022;172(5-6):114-121. doi:10.1007/s10354-021-00904-zNIH. National Institute on Aging.What are the sign’s of Alzheimer’s disease?. October 18, 2022.NIH. National Institute of Mental health.Understanding psychosis. Revised 2023.Falk N, Cole A, Meredith TJ.Evaluation of suspected dementia.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(6):398-405.Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: a systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204Kalish VB, Gillham JE, Unwin BK.Delirium in older persons: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(3):150-158.NIH. National Institute on Aging.Tips for coping with sundowning. Reviewed May 17, 2017.NIH. National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease: Common medical problems. Reviewed May 18, 2017.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.LaHue SC, Douglas VC.Approach to altered mental status and inpatient delirium.Neurol Clin. 2022;40(1):45-57. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2021.08.004Iglseder B, Frühwald T, Jagsch C.Delirium in geriatric patients.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2022;172(5-6):114-121. doi:10.1007/s10354-021-00904-zNIH. National Institute on Aging.What are the sign’s of Alzheimer’s disease?. October 18, 2022.NIH. National Institute of Mental health.Understanding psychosis. Revised 2023.Falk N, Cole A, Meredith TJ.Evaluation of suspected dementia.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(6):398-405.Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: a systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204Kalish VB, Gillham JE, Unwin BK.Delirium in older persons: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(3):150-158.NIH. National Institute on Aging.Tips for coping with sundowning. Reviewed May 17, 2017.NIH. National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease: Common medical problems. Reviewed May 18, 2017.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
LaHue SC, Douglas VC.Approach to altered mental status and inpatient delirium.Neurol Clin. 2022;40(1):45-57. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2021.08.004Iglseder B, Frühwald T, Jagsch C.Delirium in geriatric patients.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2022;172(5-6):114-121. doi:10.1007/s10354-021-00904-zNIH. National Institute on Aging.What are the sign’s of Alzheimer’s disease?. October 18, 2022.NIH. National Institute of Mental health.Understanding psychosis. Revised 2023.Falk N, Cole A, Meredith TJ.Evaluation of suspected dementia.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(6):398-405.Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: a systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204Kalish VB, Gillham JE, Unwin BK.Delirium in older persons: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(3):150-158.NIH. National Institute on Aging.Tips for coping with sundowning. Reviewed May 17, 2017.NIH. National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease: Common medical problems. Reviewed May 18, 2017.
LaHue SC, Douglas VC.Approach to altered mental status and inpatient delirium.Neurol Clin. 2022;40(1):45-57. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2021.08.004
Iglseder B, Frühwald T, Jagsch C.Delirium in geriatric patients.Wien Med Wochenschr. 2022;172(5-6):114-121. doi:10.1007/s10354-021-00904-z
NIH. National Institute on Aging.What are the sign’s of Alzheimer’s disease?. October 18, 2022.
NIH. National Institute of Mental health.Understanding psychosis. Revised 2023.
Falk N, Cole A, Meredith TJ.Evaluation of suspected dementia.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(6):398-405.
Chakrabarti S, Singh N.Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder and their impact on the illness: a systematic review.World J Psychiatry. 2022;12(9):1204-1232. doi:10.5498/wjp.v12.i9.1204
Kalish VB, Gillham JE, Unwin BK.Delirium in older persons: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(3):150-158.
NIH. National Institute on Aging.Tips for coping with sundowning. Reviewed May 17, 2017.
NIH. National Institute on Aging.Alzheimer’s disease: Common medical problems. Reviewed May 18, 2017.
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