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Presentation comparison
RoutineCovers memory problems, dementia, delirium, depression-related cognitive symptoms, and behavioural and psychological symptoms.
3 of 8 diagnoses compared
| CriteriaComparison detail | DeliriumEmergency |
|---|
Acute and fluctuating with inattention = delirium (medical/toxic cause).
Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
| Lewy body dementiaUrgent |
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| Frontotemporal dementiaRoutine |
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| Alzheimer diseaseRoutineNot selected |
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| Vascular dementiaRoutineNot selected |
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| Depression-related cognitive syndromeRoutineNot selected |
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| Alcohol-related brain injuryRoutineNot selected |
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| BPSD as unmet needRoutineNot selected |
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| Why it fits | Acute confusion, poor attention, fluctuating cognition, hallucinations, sleep-wake reversal | Fluctuation, vivid visual hallucinations, parkinsonism, REM sleep behaviour | Early disinhibition, apathy, loss of empathy, compulsions, dietary change, language disturbance | Gradual recent-memory decline, repetition, disorientation, language problems | Stepwise decline, focal signs, gait change, executive dysfunction | Subjective memory complaint, slowed thinking, mood syndrome dominates | Heavy alcohol history, poor nutrition, anterograde memory problems, confabulation | Agitation driven by pain, infection, constipation, retention, delirium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What argues against | Applies to the whole presentationReview locally. | |||||||
| Must-not-miss | Sepsis, hypoxia, stroke, withdrawal, medication toxicity | Marked antipsychotic sensitivity, falls, severe confusion after dopamine blockers | Safeguarding risk, financial exploitation, severe personality change | Vulnerability, wandering, | ||||
| Bedside question | Applies to the whole presentationAcute and fluctuating with inattention = delirium (medical/toxic cause). | |||||||
| Immediate action | Applies to the whole presentationStabilise and reassess. | |||||||
| Investigations | Applies to the whole presentationGuided by presentation. | |||||||
| Mimics / overlap | Applies to the whole presentationReview overlap locally. | |||||||
Scroll horizontally to review more candidate differentials. Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
Review locally.
Acute and fluctuating with inattention = delirium (medical/toxic cause).
Stabilise and reassess.
Guided by presentation.
Review overlap locally.
Acute confusion, poor attention, fluctuating cognition, hallucinations, sleep-wake reversal
Sepsis, hypoxia, stroke, withdrawal, medication toxicity
Fluctuation, vivid visual hallucinations, parkinsonism, REM sleep behaviour
Marked antipsychotic sensitivity, falls
Early disinhibition, apathy, loss of empathy, compulsions, dietary change, language disturbance
Safeguarding risk, financial exploitation
Safety first. Act early.
Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
Open a selected differential to review its clinical record.
Based on current selection
Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
| New strokes, falls, poor insight |
| Psychotic depression, severe suicidality, poor intake |
| Wernicke features, falls, liver disease, ongoing drinking |
| Sudden behaviour change, falls, dehydration, delirium |