PSYC 235 Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Physical Exercise, Dopaminergic Pathways, Neurodegeneration

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 235
• Professor: Christopher Bowie

Document Summary

Delirium: characterized by impaired consciousness and cognition during the course of several hours or days. One of the earliest recognized mental disorders. People appear confused, disoriented, and out of touch with their surroundings. Rapid treatment is important as quicker treatment is associated with better long-term outcomes. Treatment has different levels: psycho-social: reassure the individual to help them deal with the agitation, anxiety, and hallucinations of delirium. This also helps the patient regain a sense of control: medical: antipsychotic medications are used to treat acute delirium and delirium brought on from withdrawal. May be successful in assisting people who are susceptible to delirium and proper medical care for illnesses and therapeutic drug monitoring can play a significant role. Major neurocognitive disorders (dementia): gradual deterioration of brain functioning that affects judgement, memory, language, and other advanced cognitive processes. Mild neurocognitive disorders (new to dsm-5): focuses attention on the early stages of cognitive decline.