• Information
  1. Confusion
  2. Encephalopathy

A. Confusion

1. Infections
   1. Sepsis (Bacteremia)
   2. Meningitis
2. Drugs
   1. Anti-cholinergics
   2. Anti-histamines (H1-blockers)
   3. Benzodiazepines
   4. Narcotics
3. Withdrawal Syndromes
   1. Drug Withdrawal
   2. EtOH Withdrawal
4. Vitamin Difficiency
   1. Thiamin Deficiency
5. Metabolic Dysfunction
   1. Hepatic Insufficiency
   2. Renal Failure - particularly acute
   3. Endstage Renal Disease
6. Endocrine Disorders
   1. Thyrotoxicosis / Hypothyroidism
   2. Adrenal Insufficiency
7. Metabolic Derangements
   1. Hypoxia
   2. Hypoglycemia
   3. Electrolyte Abnormalities - especially abnormal sodium and calcium
8. Encephalopathy
9. Neurodegenerative Disease
   1. Multiple Infarctions
   2. Alzheimer Disease
   3. Parkinson Disease

B. Encephalopathy [1]

1. Metabolic
   1. Hypoglycemia
   2. Hyponatremia
   3. Hypernatremia
   4. Hypercalcemia
   5. Carbon Dioxide Narcosis
   6. Azotemia
   7. Ketoacidosis
   8. Hyperglycemic Coma (dehydration, hyperglycemia)
   9. Hepatic Encephalopathy
   10. Nitrogen Narcosis - scuba diving
2. Toxic Encephalopathies
   1. Alcohol - acute intoxication, withdrawal syndrome, Korsikoff Syndrome
   2. Psychoactive Drugs
   3. Salicylates
   4. Heavy Metals
3. Intracranial lesions
   1. Hemorrhage: subarachnoid, subdural, intracerebral
   2. Cerebral infarction: thromboembolic stroke
   3. Cerebral tumor
   4. Cerebral abscess
   5. Meningitis
   6. Encephalitis
   7. Epilepsy and Post-Ictal State
4. Neuropsychiatric Disease

References

1. Riordan SM and Williams R. 1997. NEJM. 337(7):473