title: [The confused elderly patient].
abstract: Mental confusion has long-time been likened to dementia, while it is in fact an acute disturbance of a person's alertness and attention capacities. Generally reversible and temporary, it is brought on by high levels of stress. Nursing care is an essential element of its treatment.
authors.affiliation: Intersecteur de psychiatrie de la personne âgée, Hôpital de Bohars, CHU de Brest, Route de Ploudalmézeau, 29820 Bohars, France. cyril.hazifthomas@chu-brest.fr
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hazif-Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications