DELIRIUM

ORGANIC MENTAL DISORDERS

“A pattern of organic psychological and behavioural

symptoms associated with permanent or transient brain
dysfunction but without reference to etiology”.

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 ICD 10 CLASSIFICATION OF ORGANIC MENTAL DISORDERS

F00 – F09 organic including symptomatic, mental disorders:

• F00 : Dementia in Alzheimer’s disease

• F01 : Vascular dementia
• F04 : Organic amnestic syndrome
• F05 : Delirium
• F06 : Other mental disorders due to brain damage and dysfunction and
physical disease
• F07 : Personality and behavioural disorders due to brain disease , damage and
dysfunction

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 DELIRIUM

“It is a state of clouded consciousness in which

attention cannot be sustained , the environment is
wrongly perceived and disturbances of thinking are
present”.

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 PREDISPOSING FACTORS OF DELIRIUM
• Pre-existing brain damage or dementia
• Extreme of age
• Previous history of delirium
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Generalized or focal cerebral lesions
• Chronic medical illness
• Seizures

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 PREDISPOSING FACTORS CONTD….

• surgical procedure and postoperative period

• Severe psychological symptoms
• Treatment with psychotropic drugs
• Present or past history of head injury
• Individual susceptibility to delirium
• Migraine headache

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 NURSING CONSIDERATION

1.OBSERVATION
• History collection
• Physical examination
• Observe for injury or hematoma
• Observe for clinical features and vital signs
• Assist with investigation

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2. SAFETY PRECAUTION
• Prevent accidents and fall
• Provide safe environment
• Provide low stimuli environment
• Be calm & patient in your approach
• Keep the room well lighted

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3. ALLEVIATING PATIENTS FEAR & ANXIETY

• Remove object that seems to be a source of misinterpreted perception

• Have the same person by the patient's bedside

4. FACILITATE ORIENTATION

• Orient the patient about the date, time and place

• Introduce the people with name
• When the acute stage is over, introduce him to others.

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 5. MEETING THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THE PATIENT

• Appropriate care should be provided

• Maintain intake output chart
• Mouth and skin care
• Monitor vital signs
• Assess patient’s hygiene, nutrition and hydration
• Assist in meeting the hygienic needs

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 STUDENT REFERENCES
1. KP Neeraja, Essential of Mental Health And Psychiatric
Nursing Volume 2, First Edition ,Jaypee Brothers Medical
Publishers, New Delhi, 2008, Page: 542-550
2. R Sreevani, A Guide To Mental Health And Psychiatric
Nursing, Fourth Edition, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers,
New Delhi, 2016, Page : 132-136

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