Delirium and psychosis are both neuropsychiatric conditions that affect the way a person thinks, perceives reality, and behaves, but they have distinct characteristics and underlying causes. Here are the main differences between delirium and psychosis:
Delirium:
Onset and Duration: Delirium typically develops over a short period, often hours to days, and its symptoms tend to fluctuate throughout the day. It is usually of acute onset and reversible once the underlying cause is treated.
Consciousness and Attention: Delirium often results in impaired consciousness and reduced ability to focus and maintain attention. Patients may appear drowsy, disoriented, or have difficulty staying alert.
Causes: Delirium is commonly triggered by underlying medical conditions, such as infections, metabolic imbalances, drug intoxication or withdrawal, and organ failure. It can also be a result of surgery or other medical procedures.
Symptoms: Delirium is characterized by a range of cognitive disturbances, including confusion, disorientation, memory deficits, and language impairments. Individuals may experience hallucinations or delusions, but these are usually not the predominant features.
Course: Delirium tends to have a fluctuating course, with symptoms worsening and improving throughout the day. It can be hyperactive (agitated), hypoactive (sluggish), or a mix of both.
Psychosis:
Onset and Duration: Psychosis usually has a more gradual onset and a longer duration compared to delirium. It may develop over weeks, months, or even longer and can become a chronic condition.
Consciousness and Attention: Unlike delirium, consciousness and attention are generally preserved in individuals with psychosis. They are fully aware of their surroundings and can maintain focus.
Causes: Psychosis can be associated with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or substance-induced psychotic disorders.
Symptoms: The hallmark symptoms of psychosis are hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are sensory experiences that are not based in reality, such as hearing voices or seeing things that others don't. Delusions are false beliefs that persist even in the face of contradictory evidence.
Course: Psychosis may have a chronic or episodic course. In chronic cases, the symptoms are present most of the time, while in episodic cases, periods of psychosis alternate with periods of relative normalcy.
It's important to note that both delirium and psychosis require careful evaluation by a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management. Delirium is a medical emergency that requires urgent attention to identify and address the underlying cause, while psychosis may require ongoing psychiatric treatment and support.