Question

A patient admitted for delirium demonstrates increased disorientation and agitation only during the evening and nighttime. What is the term applied to this type of delirium?

a. Disordered thinking
b. Schizophrenia
c. Dementia
d. Sundowning syndrome

Answer 1

The term for the type of delirium with increased evening and nighttime symptoms is sundowning syndrome, commonly associated with dementia, not schizophrenia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term applied to the type of delirium which exhibits increased disorientation and agitation during the evening and nighttime is sundowning syndrome. Sundowning can occur in patients dealing with conditions such as dementia, where symptoms such as disruptive memory loss, confusion about time or place, and personality changes may be exacerbated in the later part of the day.

This syndrome is different from schizophrenia, which involves persistent issues with reality perception and emotional responses, and whose symptoms are not typically limited to a specific time of day.