Hill C D, Risby E, Morgan N
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Psychopharmacol Bull. 1992;28(4):401-7.
Delirium is commonly defined as a transient organic brain syndrome characterized by concurrent disorders of attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor behavior, and the sleep-wake cycle. One of the difficulties in studying delirium is that symptoms tend to fluctuate over the course of the day. Pre-existing organic brain disease appears to be a significant risk factor for the development of delirium, and numerous studies have shown a high rate of delirium in patients with cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The cognitive deficits associated with delirium have not been widely studied in a systematic, quantitative fashion. Following resolution of the frank delirium, documented cognitive deficits can be observed, and may persist in a diluted form for a period of months. Residual cognitive deficits may be due to a minimal and persistent confusion or to an underlying brain disorder.
谵妄通常被定义为一种短暂的器质性脑综合征，其特征为注意力、感知、思维、记忆、精神运动行为及睡眠-觉醒周期同时出现紊乱。研究谵妄的困难之一在于症状往往在一天中会有所波动。既往存在的器质性脑疾病似乎是发生谵妄的一个重要危险因素，大量研究表明，脑血管疾病、帕金森病和阿尔茨海默病患者中谵妄的发生率很高。与谵妄相关的认知缺陷尚未得到系统、定量的广泛研究。在明显的谵妄症状消退后，可以观察到有记录的认知缺陷，并且这些缺陷可能会以较轻的形式持续数月。残留的认知缺陷可能是由于轻微且持续的意识模糊或潜在的脑部疾病所致。
