Assessment
Questionnaire
Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Confusion. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:
Privacy Statement
No private information is transferred over the internet. Do not use the "Browser back button", as this may cause data loss.
Why: to determine if acute or chronic. If acute in nature must consider delirium as possible cause of confusion. Delirium is an acute confusional state due to many causes e.g. infection, drug intoxication, alcohol withdrawal, liver failure, kidney failure, hypoxia, low blood sugar, stroke, heart attack or head injury.
Why: e.g. if symptoms are worse in the late afternoon and at night delirium ( acute confusional state) is most likely.
Why: patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis e.g. stroke; depression or AIDS notice their confusion whereas patients with Alzheimer's disease are unaware of their confusion.
Why: may suggest subdural haematoma, extradural haematoma or concussion.
Why: certain medications may cause intoxication e.g. anticonvulsants, anticholinergics, anti-anxiety medications, opiates; or may cause confusion on drug withdrawal.
Why: e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, family history - can assess risk of multi-infarct dementia.
Why: e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, depression.
Why: to assess chance of alcohol withdrawal, alcohol abuse, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, subdural or extradural haematoma due to head injury.
Why: e.g. amphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, LSD, PCP.
Why: may determine risk of HIV and syphilis infection which may cause cognitive impairment with confusion.
Why: e.g. carbon monoxide, chronic barbiturate intoxication, heavy metals such as mercury and manganese.
Why: e.g. impaired memory, impaired judgement and thinking, impaired verbal fluency and impaired ability to perform complex tasks. Personality may change, impulse control may be lost and personal care deteriorates.
Why: Depression may exhibit many of the features of an early dementia, especially memory impairment, slowed thinking and lack of spontaneity.
Why: can suggest any infection that may cause delirium or meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess or brain hemorrhage.
Why: e.g. limb weakness or paralysis, facial muscle weakness or paralysis, difficulty with speech and swallow.
Why: may suggest brain cancer or acute stroke.
Why: e.g. delusions, hallucinations and disordered thinking - may suggest schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
The following list of conditions have 'Confusion' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Confusion or choose View All.
The following list of medical conditions have 'Confusion'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
» Next page: Types of Confusion
Medical Tools & Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 7 May, 2013 (3:15)
