Altered mental status

Altered Mental Status (AMS) is a medical term that refers to a broad spectrum of disorders in mental functioning, ranging from slight confusion to deep unconsciousness. This condition is often a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition and requires immediate medical attention.

Definition

Altered Mental Status is defined as a change in cognition, attention, consciousness, or perception as compared to the patient's baseline. This can manifest as confusion, delirium, lethargy, and even coma. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and can be caused by a wide variety of conditions.

Causes

The causes of Altered Mental Status can be broadly categorized into four main groups: structural, toxic, metabolic, and infectious.

• Structural causes include conditions that physically affect the brain, such as stroke, brain tumor, trauma, and seizure.
• Toxic causes refer to substances that can affect mental status, including drugs, alcohol, and certain medications.
• Metabolic causes include conditions that affect the body's chemistry, such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and kidney disease.
• Infectious causes include conditions that involve an infection, such as meningitis, encephalitis, and sepsis.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Altered Mental Status involves a thorough medical history, physical examination, and often, diagnostic tests. These may include blood tests, imaging studies such as CT scan or MRI, and sometimes a lumbar puncture.

Treatment

Treatment of Altered Mental Status depends on the underlying cause. It may involve medications to treat infections, surgery to remove tumors, or management of metabolic disorders. In all cases, the goal is to treat the underlying cause and support the patient's vital functions.

Prognosis

The prognosis for Altered Mental Status depends on the underlying cause and the patient's overall health. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve outcomes.

See Also

• Delirium
• Coma
• Consciousness