Symptom profile and etiology of delirium in a referral population in northern india: factor analysis of the DRS-R98

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2012 Winter;24(1):95-101. doi: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.11010009.

Abstract

Delirium is understudied in developing countries, where there tends to be a lower proportion of older persons and comorbid dementia. The authors assessed 100 consecutive cases of DSM-IV delirium (patients' mean age: 44.4 [standard deviation: 19.4] years; mean DRS-R98 score: 25.6 [3.6]) referred to an adult Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry service in Northern India. Disturbances of attention, orientation, visuospatial ability, and sleep disturbance were the most frequent symptoms, followed by language, thought-process abnormality, and motor agitation. A three-factor solution was identified, representing domains for cognition, higher-order thinking, and circadian rhythm/psychosis. These domains can guide studies addressing the relationship between symptom profile, therapeutic needs, and outcomes and are consistent with core domains previously identified in other countries.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / etiology*
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Delirium* / complications
  • Delirium* / epidemiology
  • Delirium* / etiology
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Perceptual Disorders / etiology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Visual Perception / physiology
  • Young Adult