Mr.Smith (age 72) is brought to the hospital emergency room.His son explains that his father woke up this morning and was "not himself." Mr.Smith was confused, agitated, and a bit frightened.He did not know his own name and could not recognize his son.His son reports that he had been completely fine, with no symptoms, prior to that morning.What does Mr.Smith appear to be suffering from?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mr.Smith appears to be suffering from delirium, which is a sudden onset of confusion and disorientation. This can be caused by a variety of factors such as medication changes or a medical illness. Amnestic disorder is a condition that affects memory, neurocognitive disorder is a more general term for cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease is a progressive form of dementia with specific neurological changes in the brain. None of these conditions fully match Mr.Smith's symptoms.

MrSmith (Age 72) Is Brought to the Hospital Emergency Room