Factors that Contribute to Misdiagnosis in Dementia and Delirium

• The symptoms of dementia and delirium are similar.
• Several causes may occur simultaneously to bring about dementia.
• Delirium occurring in a patient with a dementia can exacerbate already existing symptoms.
• Health-care personnel may harbor unfounded beliefs that serious memory deficits, confusion, and other progressive intellectual deficits are a normal part of the aging process.
• Health-care personnel may harbor unfounded beliefs that confusion always indicates Alzheimer’s disease in an older patient.
• Confusion and behavioral changes may be the first sign of medical illness in the elderly.
• Head injuries and other conditions causing brain tissue trauma may present with symptoms similar to those of dementia.
• Confusion is an adverse reaction to many medications.

Source: Gorman, L., Raines, M., & Sultan, D. (2002). Psychosocial nursing for general patient care (2nd ed). Philadelphia: FA Davis.