Delirium classification

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vishal Khurana, M.B.B.S., M.D. [2] ; Pratik Bahekar, MBBS [3]

Types of Delirium

DSM V specifies delirium on various virtues,

Based on etiology:

• Substance intoxication delirium: diagnosis of substance intoxication delirium is made rather than substance intoxication, when the symptoms in Criteria A and C predominate and are severe enough to require clinical attention.
• Substance withdrawal delirium: diagnosis of substance withdrawal delirium is made rather than substance withdrawal, when the symptoms in Criteria A and C predominate and are severe enough to require clinical attention

Based on duration:

• Acute: Duration is restricted to a few hours to says
• Persistent: when delirium lasts for weeks or months.

Based on severity:

• Hyperactive: An increased psychomotor activity which may cooccue with incresed mood lability, agitation, and/or non cooperative attitude towards medical treatment.
• Hypoactive: A hypoactive level of psychomotor activity which may exist along with increased sluggishness, lethargy or stupour.
• Mixed level of activity: A normal level of psychomotor activity, individuals with rapidly fluctuating activity are also included in this category.

Some authours have described fourth type of delirium, called as Subsyndromal delirium (an incomplete form of delirium)