IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023
Mental Health Nursing
Easy
Delirium is a disorder of:
Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023
Explanation
- Delirium is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a disturbance in attention and awareness (consciousness).
- This disturbance develops over a short period (acute onset), represents a change from baseline, and tends to fluctuate in severity during the day.
- The core feature that distinguishes delirium from other cognitive disorders is the impairment of consciousness, which makes it difficult for the patient to focus, sustain, or shift attention.
- While perception, memory, and thought are also affected, they are considered secondary to the primary disturbance in consciousness.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option B: While perceptual disturbances like hallucinations (especially visual) are common in delirium, they are a symptom, not the primary defining disorder. The disturbance in consciousness is the core feature that often leads to these perceptual changes.
- Option C: Memory impairment is present in delirium, but it is not the primary disorder. The memory loss in delirium is often secondary to the inability to pay attention and register new information.
- Option D: Disorganized thought is a symptom of delirium, but it is a consequence of the underlying disturbance in consciousness and attention.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Core feature and definition of delirium as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Recognizing delirium as an acute disturbance of consciousness is a critical nursing skill. It is a medical emergency that signals an underlying physiological problem (e.g., infection, hypoxia, metabolic imbalance) that must be identified and treated promptly.
- Failure to recognize delirium can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and long-term cognitive decline.
- What if the patient's confusion developed over two years instead of two days? The primary diagnosis would shift from delirium to dementia. The chronic, gradual onset points towards a progressive neurocognitive decline, whereas the acute onset is the hallmark of delirium.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the keyword in the question stem, which is 'Delirium'.
- Recall the fundamental definition of delirium. The hallmark feature is an acute change in mental status.
- Evaluate each option based on the core definition. Delirium is primarily defined by a disturbance in attention and awareness.
- Consider the options: 'Perception', 'Memory', and 'Thought' are all cognitive domains that are affected in delirium, but they are secondary to the main problem.
- The primary, core disturbance in delirium is in 'Consciousness' (which encompasses awareness and attention). Therefore, this is the most accurate answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Core feature and definition of delirium
- Stem keywords: Delirium, disorder
- Lead-in keywords: is a disorder of
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QfWmZEmOaTnoKaWkNS5w89
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 13833-13835
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 734-736
E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 341-343
Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2023
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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