Final answer:
The manifestations of delirium in neurocognitive disorders are impaired attention and awareness, cognitive disturbances, and an altered level of consciousness, with symptoms such as memory loss, cognitive impairment, and erratic behavior. A mental status exam is often used to assess these symptoms in detail.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expected manifestations of delirium in neurocognitive disorders include impaired attention and awareness, cognitive disturbances, and altered level of consciousness. Delirium is a medical condition that reflects a serious disturbance in mental abilities resulting in confused thinking and reduced awareness of the environment. The onset is usually sudden, and the symptoms fluctuate over the course of the day.
Patients may experience disruptive memory loss, mix-ups concerning time or place, impaired coordination and balance, and difficulty with planning and executing tasks. They may also demonstrate impaired cognitive function, memory lapses or loss, and visual disturbances. Furthermore, delirium can result in irritability, impaired moral judgment, and even hallucinations. Part of the assessment may include a mental status exam that looks at orientation and memory, language and speech, and judgment and abstract reasoning.
When diagnosing delirium, it is crucial to determine whether the neurocognitive disorder has resulted from conditions such as infection, trauma, or congenital disorders, and to assess whether the symptoms represent an acute event like a stroke, or a more chronic condition.