States of Acutely Altered Consciousness.



Coma:  Closed eyes, sleeplike state 
with no response to external stimuli (pain). People have no corneal or gag reflex, and they may have no pupillary response to light.

 Stupor: Responsive only to vigorous or painful stimuli by grimacing or drawing away from painful stimuli.

 Obtunded: A person has a decreased interest in their surroundings, slowed responses, and sleepiness.


 Somnolent: A somnolent person shows excessive drowsiness and responds to stimuli only with incoherent mumbles or disorganized movements.

Delirium:  Acute state of confusion with or without behavioral disturbance. Disoriented, restlessness, hallucinations, sometimes delusions. Subtypes of delirium include hyperactive (agitated) delirium and the more common hypoactive or quiet delirium.


 Confusion: People who do not respond quickly with information about their name, location, and the time are considered "obtuse" or "confused".A confused person may be bewildered, disoriented, and have difficulty following instructions. 

 Catatonia: Eyes open, unblinking, unresponsive

 Conscious:  People who are able promptly and spontaneously to state their name, location, and the date or time are said to be oriented to self, place, and time.

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