PSYCH257 Lecture 11: Neurocognitive Disorders

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH257
• Professor: David Moscovitch

Document Summary

Two classes of cognitive disorders: delirium often temporary condition displayed as confusion and disorientation, mild or major neurocognitive disorder progressive condition marked by gradual deterioration of a range of cognitive abilities. Impaired consciousness and cognition during the course of several hours or days. People with this disorder appear confused, disoriented and out of touch with their surroundings. Subsides fairly quickly with a full recovery in most cases, some people however, experience it off and on. Intoxication, withdrawal, infections, head injury, and other brain traumas have been linked back to delirium. For drug induced delirium or for withdrawal induced delirium medication is used. For trauma, head injury, or infections the appropriate medical interventions are implemented which then resolves the accompanying delirium. Major neurocognitive disorder (previously labelled dementia) gradual deterioration of brain functioning that affects judgement, memory, language, and other cognitive processes. Mild neurocognitive disorder modest impairments in cognitive abilities but with some accommodations can function independently.