Delirium is a cognitive (mental) disorder.

Delirium often occurs suddenly and the patient's symptoms may come and go throughout the day. People experiencing delirium may fall in and out of consciousness and may have problems with the following:

• Attention.
• Thinking.
• Awareness.
• Emotion.
• Memory.
• Muscle control.
• Sleeping and waking.

Delirium occurs frequently in cancer patients, especially in patients with advanced cancer.

Delirium is often reversible, even in people with advanced illness. In the last 24 to 48 hours of life, however, delirium may not be reversible due to problems such as organ failure.

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