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John Morrison LAWLZ |
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{{Nofootnotes|article|date=February 2008}} |
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{{redirect|Confusion}} |
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'''Confusion''', of a [[pathological]] degree, usually refers to loss of orientation (ability to place oneself correctly in the world by time, location, and personal identity) and often memory (ability to correctly recall previous events or learn new material). Confusion as such is not synonymous with inability to focus attention, although severe inability to focus attention can cause, or greatly contribute to, confusion. Together, confusion and inability to focus attention (both of which affect ''judgment'') are the twin symptoms of a ''loss'' or ''lack'' of normal brain function (mentation).{{Fact|date=September 2007}} |
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The milder degrees of confusion as pathological symptoms, are relative to previous function. Thus (for example) a mathematician confused about manipulation of simple fractions, may be showing pathology which would not be diagnosable in a person without training in this area. Thus, as with the case of delirium, the minor degrees of pathological confusion cannot be diagnosed without knowledge of a person's "baseline", or normal, level of mental functioning.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} |
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Confusion may result from a relatively ''sudden'' brain dysfunction (see [[delirium]]). It may also result from chronic organic brain pathologies such as [[dementia]]. In either case, confusion is usually associated with some degree of loss of ability to focus attention, but (as noted) the association is not invariable, especially for lesser degrees of impairment.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} |
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Many health problems may cause the syndromes of [[delirium]] or [[dementia]]. These syndromes may also occur together, and both of them usually include the symptom of confusion. Since mental function is extremely sensitive to health, the appearance of either a new confused state, or a new loss of ability to focus attention (delirium), may indicate that a new physical or mental [[illness]] has appeared, or that a chronic physical or mental illness has progressed (become more severe).{{Fact|date=September 2007}} |
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== Possible causes == |
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Confusion, like inability to focus attention, is a very general and nonspecific symptom of brain or mental dysfunction. In addition to many organic causes of confusion relating to a structural defect or a metabolic problem in the brain (analogous to hardware problems in a computer), there are also some psychiatric causes of confusion, which may also include a component of mental or emotional stress, mental disease, or other "programming" problems (analogous to software problems in a computer).{{Fact|date=September 2007}} |
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Another use of the term describes the experience of persons without medical or psychological pathology, who suffer from confusion on a regular basis. Evidence can readily be gathered by entering "confused" in a search engine: in Google, the word produced 280 '''million ''' hits on 1/22/08. |
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Many types of information pathology such as propaganda, lies, and disinformation contribute to the confusion of ordinary people, as described in "Lethal American Confusion." |
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Medical and psychiatric causes of confusion are too many to list by specific pathology. However general categories of possible causes of mental confusion include: |
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===Gross structural brain disorders=== |
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* [[Head (anatomy)|Head]] [[Physical trauma|trauma]] ([[Id est|i.e.]], [[concussion]], traumatic bleeding, [[penetrating head injury|penetrating injury]], [[Et cetera|etc.]]) |
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* Gross structural damage from brain disease ([[stroke]], [[cerebral hemorrhage|spontaneous bleeding]], [[brain tumor|tumor]], etc.) |
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===Neurological disorders=== |
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* Various [[neurological disorders]] |
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===General metabolic causes=== |
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* [[Sleep deprivation|Lack of sleep]] |
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* [[Body temperature]] problems ([[hypothermia]], [[heat stroke]], [[hyperpyrexia]], etc.) |
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* [[Infection]] (sometimes independently of [[fever]]) |
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* [[Nutrition]]al deficiency |
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* [[Allergic reactions]] and [[autoimmune]] diseases |
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===Circulatory=== |
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* [[Idiopathic intracranial hypertension|Intracranial Hypertension]] |
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===Lack of essential metabolic fuels, nutrients, etc.=== |
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* [[Hypoxia (medical)|Hypoxia]], |
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* [[Hypoglycemia]] or [[hyperglycemia]] |
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* [[Electrolyte]] imbalance ([[dehydration]], [[water intoxication]]) |
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===Toxication=== |
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* [[Intoxication]] by various drugs ([[alcohol]], [[anaesthetics]], [[marijuana]], etc.) |
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* [[Poisons]] (including [[carbon monoxide]] and [[metabolic blockade]]) |
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* [[Medication]]s, including [[psychoactive drug|psychotropic medications]] |
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===Mental illness=== |
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* [[Mania]] |
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* [[Clinical depression|Depression]] |
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* [[Schizophrenia]] |
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===Psychological stressors=== |
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* Distraction |
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* Emotional shock (great fear, grief, anger, etc.) |
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* Many types of information pathology such as propaganda, lies, and disinformation contribute to the confusion of ordinary people, as described above. |
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== Possible co-existing symptoms == |
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Confusion is a symptom. It may range from mild to severe. The confused state may include also: |
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* Jumbled or disorganized [[thought]] |
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* Unusual, bizarre, or [[aggressive]] [[behavior]] |
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* Difficulty in solving problems or tasks, especially those known to have been previously easy for the person |
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* Inability to recognize family members or familiar objects, or to give approximate location of family members not present. |
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* [[Illusion]]s |
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* [[Hallucination]]s |
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* [[Paranoia]] |
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* [[Disorientation]] |
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* Inability to focus attention (see [[delirium]]) |
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* Drowsiness |
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* Abnormal sleeplessness and/or hyperactivity |
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== Cures == |
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Confusion is a symptom, like shortness of breath or pain. Like other symptoms, the cure relates to the underlying cause. |
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==External links== |
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{{commons|Category:Confusion|Confusion}} |
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* [http://health.yahoo.com/ Yahoo! Health] |
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* [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health] |
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{{emotion-footer}} |
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[[Category:Psychiatry]] |
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[[Category:Neurology]] |
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[[Category:Cognition]] |
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[[es:Confusión (psicología)]] |
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[[it:Confusione]] |
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[[ht:Confusion]] |
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[[pt:Confusão]] |
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[[qu:Musphay]] |
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[[scn:Cunfusioni (chiassu)]] |
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[[simple:Mental confusion]] |
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Revision as of 19:32, 12 September 2008
John Morrison LAWLZ