In psychology, confusion is the quality or emotional state of being bewildered or unclear. The term "acute mental confusion"[ Confusion Definition on Oxford Dictionaries.] is often used interchangeably with delirium[ Delirium , Symptom Finder online.] in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems and the Medical Subject Headings publications to describe the pathology. These refer to the loss of orientation, or the ability to place oneself correctly in the world by time, location and personal identity. Mental confusion is sometimes accompanied by disordered consciousness (the loss of linear thinking) and memory loss (the inability to correctly recall previous events or learn new material).[ confusion in TheFreeDictionary, citing: Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers; 2007; Saunders.]
Etymology
The word confusion derives from the
Latin word,
confundo, which means "confuse, mix, blend, pour together, disorder, embroil."
Causes
Confusion may result from drug side effects or from a relatively sudden brain dysfunction. Acute confusion is often called
delirium (or "acute confusional state"),
[ Acute Confusional State; Dr. Gurvinder Rull; patient.info; Document ID/Version/Reference: 1714/22/bgp2104; updated: 13 Jan 2009; accessed: when?.] although delirium often includes a much broader array of disorders than simple confusion. These disorders include the inability to focus attention; various impairments in awareness, and temporal or spatial dis-orientation. Mental confusion can result from chronic organic brain pathologies, such as
dementia,
as well.
Other
Differential diagnosis
The most common causes of drug induced acute confusion are
dopaminergic drugs (used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease),
diuretics, tricyclic, tetracyclic antidepressants and
benzodiazepines or alcohol. The elderly, and especially those with pre-existing dementia, are most at risk for drug induced acute confusional states.
New research is finding a link between
vitamin D deficiency and cognitive impairment (which includes "foggy brain").
See also
External links
