Delirium: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Delirium?
Delirium is often treated by an internal medicine doctor, a hospital doctor, or a geriatrician, a doctor who cares for older adults. A neurologist, a doctor for the brain and nerves, or a psychiatrist, a mental health doctor, may also help. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is delirium?
Delirium is a mental state in which you are confused, disoriented, and not able to think or remember clearly. It usually starts suddenly, and it is often temporary and treatable.
There are three types.
- With the hypoactive type, you are not active and you seem sleepy, tired, or depressed.
- With the hyperactive type, you are restless or agitated.
- With the mixed type, you change back and forth between hypoactive and hyperactive.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually start suddenly, over a few hours or a few days. They often come and go. Common symptoms include:
- Changes in alertness. People are usually more alert in the morning and less alert at night.
- Confusion about time or place.
- Disorganized thinking, such as talking in a way that does not make sense.
- Memory problems, mostly with short-term memory.
- You may have trouble concentrating on things.
- Changes in sleep, and sleepiness.
- Mood changes, such as anger, sadness, being easily upset, or feeling too excited.
- Hallucinations and delusions, which means seeing or hearing things that are not there and believing things that are not true.
Causes and who gets it
Many different problems can cause delirium. Some of the more common causes include:
- Infections, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and the flu.
- Dehydration, which means not enough fluid in the body.
- Electrolyte imbalances, which means the body's salts and minerals are off balance.
- Medicines, either as a side effect or from withdrawal after stopping a medicine.
- Alcohol or drugs, either from being drunk or high or from withdrawal when you stop.
- Surgery, or a bad reaction to the drugs used to put you to sleep for surgery.
- Severe lack of sleep.
- Organ failure, such as kidney or liver failure.
Some people are more likely to get delirium. The risk is higher if you are in a hospital or nursing home, have dementia, or have a serious illness. Older age and having surgery also raise the risk.
How doctors diagnose it
Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis. A medical history means the doctor asks about your symptoms. You may also get physical and nerve exams. A nerve exam checks how your brain and nerves work. Doctors may also do mental status testing, which checks for problems with your thinking and alertness, plus lab and imaging tests.
Delirium and dementia have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart. You can also have both at the same time.
Treatment
Treatment focuses on the causes and symptoms. The first step is to identify the cause. Often, treating the cause will lead to a full recovery. The person may need to stay in the hospital for a short time.
Other care can help with symptoms:
- Changing the room, so that it is quiet and well-lit, with clocks or calendars in view and family members around.
- Hearing aids, glasses, or other tools to help the person communicate, if needed.
- Medicines to control aggression or agitation, and pain relievers if there is pain.
Stopping or changing medicines that make confusion worse, or that are no longer needed, may improve mental function. Follow your doctor's instructions before you stop any medicine.
When to see a doctor
Call 911 or go to the emergency room for a sudden change in mental status, such as new confusion. Also call if a person is very hard to wake up, faints, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or has chest pain.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can review recent medicine changes, order tests to look for a cause, and check in after a hospital stay. They can also coordinate care with specialists.
Common questions
Is delirium the same as dementia?
No, they are different conditions, but they have similar symptoms. Delirium starts suddenly and can cause hallucinations. Dementia grows slowly over time.
Does delirium go away?
Yes, delirium is often temporary, and it can be treated. It often lasts about 1 week. It may take several weeks for mental function to return to normal. Full recovery is usually expected, but it depends on the cause.
Can delirium be prevented?
Sometimes, because treating the conditions that can cause delirium may reduce the risk of getting it. Hospitals can help lower the risk by avoiding sedatives and keeping rooms quiet, calm, and well-lit. It can also help to have family members around.
Can delirium cause serious problems?
Yes, it may lead to a loss of the ability to function or care for yourself. Delirium may also progress to stupor or coma, which means being barely awake or not awake at all.
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
