Reference Guide 1: Clinical Assessment BPSD and Mental Health Referral Details Distinguishing Dementia, Delirium and Depression NB:- Common to have both dementia and delirium Delirium Dementia Depression Onset Sudden Usually gradual Gradual (hours to days) (over months) ( weeks to (se months) Alertness Fluctuates Generally Generally – sleepy or agitated normal normal Attention Fluctuates Generally May have – difficulty normal difficulty concentrating, concentrating, easily distractible easily distractible Sleep Change in Can be Early morning sleeping pattern disturbed wakening – (often more night time confused at night) wandering/ confusion Thinking Disorganised Problems with Slower, – jumping from one thinking and preoccupied idea to another memory, may with –ve have problems thoughts of finding right hopelessness, word helplessness or selfdepreciation Illusions, Generally Generally delusions and normal normal hallucinations common
Reference Guide 1: Clinical Assessment BPSD and Mental Health Referral Details Distinguishing Dementia, Delirium and Depression NB:- Common to have both dementia and delirium Delirium Dementia Depression Onset Sudden (hours to days) Usually gradual (over months) Gradual ( weeks to months) Alertness Fluctuates – sleepy or agitated Generally normal Generally normal Attention Fluctuates – difficulty concentrating, easily distractible Generally normal May have difficulty concentrating, easily distractible Sleep Change in sleeping pattern (often more confused at night) Can be disturbed – night time wandering/ confusion Early morning wakening Thinking Disorganised – jumping from one idea to another Problems with thinking and memory, may have problems finding right word Slower, preoccupied with –ve thoughts of hopelessness, helplessness or selfdepreciation Illusions, delusions and hallucinations common Generally normal Generally normal (se
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