- Acute onset and fluctuating course
| Usually obtained from a family member or nurse and shown by positive responses to the following: - "Is there evidence of an acute change in mental status from the patient's baseline?"
- "Did the abnormal behavior fluctuate during the day, that is, tend to come and go, or increase and decrease in severity?"
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- Inattention
| Shown by a positive response to the following: - "Did the patient have difficulty focusing attention, for example, being easily distractible or having difficulty keeping track of what was being said?"
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- Altered level of consciousness
| Shown by any answer other than "alert" to the following: - "Overall, how would you rate this patient's level of consciousness?"
- Normal = alert
- Hyperalert = vigilant
- Drowsy, easily aroused = lethargic
- Difficult to arouse = stupor
- Unarousable = coma
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