title: Altered mental status in the neurocritical care unit.
abstract: Altered mental status is a common pathological entity in critically ill patients and particularly in those with preexisting cerebral injury. In the neurological critical care unit, the prevalence of altered mental status is especially high because of the inherent nervous system disease of these patients. Altered mental status can be crudely divided into encephalopathy and delirium. Although often used interchangeably, the 2 pathological entities have subtle differences in etiology and presentation. This is a review of delirium and encephalopathy in the neurological critical care unit.
authors: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA. Electronic address: behrouz@uthscsa.edu.
authors: Réza
authors: R
authors: Behrouz
authors: The Neurointensive Care Unit, Sanatorio Pasteur; and the Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Interzonal de Agudos ''San Juan Bautista," Catamarca, Argentina.
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Godoy
authors: Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
authors: Mahmoud R
authors: MR
authors: Azarpazhooh
authors: Neurological Service, San Camillo de' Lellis General Hospital, Rieti, Italy; Neurological Section, SMDN Centre for Cardiovascular Medicine and Cerebrovascular Disease Prevention, Sulmona, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Di Napoli
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D016638:Critical Illness; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units
keywords: Altered mental status; Critical care; Delirium; Electroencephalogram; Encephalopathy