Home Health Center Delirium   Delirium - Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Delirium



A diagnosis of delirium will be made on the basis of the answers to questions about the affected person’s symptoms and medical history.

The doctor will try to understand the underlying cause and may recommend a number of tests to reach an accurate conclusion.

A typical examination may include a physical examination, a close assessment of the mental status of the patient, and neurological exams. If none of these tests provide the cause or trigger of delirium, other diagnostic tests such as blood tests and urine tests along with neuro-imaging tests will be carried out.  The following tests will have abnormal results if delirium has set in. Tests for delirium include:

• Neurological examination to check for changes in sensation, cognitive function and motor function
• Neuropsychological studies
• Blood tests to check for chemical imbalances, metabolic disorders, Vitamin B1 and B12 levels, and Blood gas analysis
• Chest x-ray
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
• Checking creatine kinase levels in blood
• Toxicology screening tests to check for drug and alcohol levels
• EEG
• CT scan of the head
• MRI scan of the head
• Liver function test
• Serum Magnesium test
• Mental status test
• Thyroid function test
• Urinalysis