Assessment of Consciousness
Assessment of Consciousness
Status | Signs |
|---|---|
Normal | Alert; responds appropriately to environment |
Dementia | Normal amount of consciousness but loss of higher, intellectual function, with impaired interaction |
Delirium | Dramatic disruption of higher, intellectual function, with inappropriate response to the environment |
Lethargy | Little spontaneous activity; lies quietly or sleeps in the absence of stimuli; will interact with the environment when stimulated, but quality and quantity of interaction are depressed |
Obtundation | Appears asleep in the absence of stimulation; can be briefly aroused to minimal interaction |
Stupor | Requires vigorous stimulation to provoke arousal and response with movement or vocalization, but there is no appropriate interaction |
Coma | Unconscious; cannot be aroused even with vigorous or painful stimuli (note that general anesthesia is a drug-induced coma) |