Altered mental status

Altered mental status is one of the most frequent reasons for neurologic consultation in the in-patient setting. History taking should include the patient’s pre-morbid baseline, information from collateral sources, and meticulous review of home and in-patient medications. Frequently the cause for the patient’s altered mental status is multi-factorial. The history can help to determine whether the patient’s altered mental status may be due to a primary neurologic condition, secondary to another medical condition or process, and recognize individual risk factors for hospital acquired delirium.