Delirium a historical perspective

Authors

  • Priscilla Wacker FMUSP; HC; IPq; Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM-27) do Departamento
  • Paula V. Nunes FMUSP; HC; IPq; Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM-27) do Departamento
  • Orestes V. Forlenza FMUSP; HC; IPq; Ambulatório de Transtornos da Memória

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832005000300001

Keywords:

Delirium, organic mental disorder, diagnosis, history

Abstract

Delirium remained a stable psychiatric category until the early 19th century when it underwent etiological and phenomenological redefinition, precipitating the transformation of the functional insanities into psychoses. Confusion, introduced by French workers during the second half of the century, referred to a syndrome wider than (but including) delirium. It emphasized chaotic thinking and cognitive failure. The notion of clouding of consciousness (and temporo-spatial disorientation) established a common denominator for the two concepts, while Chaslin and Bonhoeffer redefined confusion and delirium as the stereotyped manifestations of acute brain failure.

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Published

2005-06-01

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 3 (2005)

Section

Original Articles

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Delirium a historical perspective . (2005). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 32(3), 97-103. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832005000300001