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Factor analysis supports the evidence of existing hyperactive and hypoactive subtypes of delirium
Author(s) -
Camus Vincent,
Burtin Bernard,
Simeone Italo,
Schwed Pierre,
Gonthier Regis,
Dubos Gerard
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(200004)15:4<313::aid-gps115>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - delirium , psychology , etiology , exploratory factor analysis , clinical psychology , reactivity (psychology) , psychiatry , psychometrics , medicine , pathology , alternative medicine
Objective The aim of this study was to examine whether delirium has specific clinical subtypes. Method One hundred and eighty‐three elderly subjects meeting DSM‐IIIR criteria for delirium were evaluated using a 19‐item symptom check‐list assessing different dimensions of delirium symptomatology. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted in order to examine which symptoms clustered. Results Factor analysis confirmed the existence of two different clusters of symptoms: first, symptoms of hyperalert/hyperactive features (agitation, hyper‐reactivity, aggressiveness, hallucinations, delusions); and second, symptoms of hypoalert/hypoactive features (decreased reactivity, motor and speech retardation, facial inexpressiveness). Conclusion This preliminary study seems to support the evidence of hypoactive and hyperactive subtypes of delirium, even though their aetiology and prognostic values need to be further examined. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.