Final answer:
Delirium is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by abrupt changes in attention and cognition, often reversible by addressing its cause, whereas schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness managed through long-term medication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Delirium is a serious neuropsychiatric condition that is characterized by sudden changes in attention, cognition, and perception, which can fluctuate throughout the day. It often involves disruptive memory loss, difficulty with planning and executing tasks, and confusion about time or place. The symptoms of delirium can vary widely from person to person but typically include poor judgment and personality changes. Delirium is distinct from the chronic mental illness schizophrenia, though patients with schizophrenia may experience delirium-like symptoms during acute psychotic episodes. Unlike schizophrenia, which usually requires lifelong treatment with antipsychotic medications that block dopamine receptors, delirium is often temporary and requires addressing the underlying cause such as infection, medication effects, or metabolic imbalances.
Patients with schizophrenia can also suffer from hallucinations, hear voices, have delusions, and exhibit so-called "negative" symptoms like loss of pleasure and basic drives. However, this differs from the acute and often reversible symptoms of delirium. While the development of schizophrenia involves malfunctioning dopaminergic neurons and problems with glutamate signaling, delirium may have a wide variety of causes such as surgery, adverse reactions to medications, or severe illnesses.
Both conditions require medical attention, but the treatment strategies differ significantly. Delirium calls for a targeted approach to correct the underlying cause, whereas schizophrenia is managed through long-term pharmacotherapy and supportive treatments aimed at controlling symptoms and improving functioning.