Cognitive impairment associated with acute or chronic disease.

Cognitive impairment in connection with acute or chronic disease may complicate the disgnosis, management and treatment of general hospital inpatients. Consulting psychiatrists may be called upon to evaluate cognitive and intellectual impairment associated with organic brain syndromes versus psychiatric disorders due to other causes. To assist the psychiatrist in formulating a differential diagnosis, the standard mental status examination and various objective neuropsychologic tests can be used. In addition, the author suggests a method of cognitive measurement using content and form analysis of five-minute speech samples. Impaired cognitive function may be caused or exacerbated by conditions such as alcohol abuse or psychoactive drug abuse which may not be revealed by the patient during the history taking.