MH : Delirium & Dementia

The hallmark feature of delirium is:

• Gradual onset of memory loss

• Fluctuating level of consciousness

• Impaired judgment only

• Irreversible brain damage

Which is the MOST common precipitating factor for delirium in hospitalized elderly patients?

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Sensory deprivation

• Infection (e.g., UTI, pneumonia)

• Depression

Which of the following is NOT typically seen in delirium?

• Acute onset

• Rapid fluctuation in symptoms

• Irreversible cognitive decline

• Disorientation

Which environmental modification helps in managing delirium?

• Loud TV for stimulation

• Bright lights on at night

• Quiet, well-lit environment with clocks and calendars

• Frequent room changes

Delirium is more common in:

• Middle-aged healthy adults

• Children with anxiety

• Elderly patients with multiple comorbidities

• Teenagers

Which medication can increase the risk of delirium in elderly patients?

• Paracetamol

• Benzodiazepines

• Vitamin C

• Antibiotics only

A patient with delirium believes nurses are trying to harm them. The nurse’s best response is to:

• Argue and explain they are wrong

• Reassure and redirect attention to reality

• Ignore the statement

• Laugh to reduce tension

Mr. L, 76, with pneumonia, becomes confused at night and tries to climb out of bed. The nurse should FIRST:

• Apply bilateral wrist restraints

• Increase the lighting and provide a clock in the room

• Ask the physician for stronger sedation

• Ignore the behaviour unless he becomes aggressive

A patient with delirium insists that the nurse is “stealing my money.”
What is the MOST appropriate nursing response?

• “That’s not true. You’re imagining it.”

• “Tell me more about what makes you think that.”

• “Stop saying that—it’s upsetting the staff.”

• Ignore the comment and change the topic

A 79-year-old man with delirium becomes agitated in the evening. His daughter says, “This is not like him.”
What is the term for this worsening at night?

• Perseveration

• Sundowning

• Disorientation

• Echolalia