Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of delirium usually start suddenly, over a few hours or a few days. They often come and go.

The most common symptoms include:

• Changes in alertness (usually more alert in the morning, less alert at night)
• Changing levels of consciousness
• Confusion
• Disorganized thinking (talking in a way that doesn't make sense)
• Disrupted sleep patterns, excess sleepiness
• Emotional changes: anger, agitation, depression, irritability, overexcitement
• Hallucinations and/or delusions
• Incontinence
• Memory problems, especially with short-term memory
• Trouble concentrating