What is an Acutely Disturbed Adult or Older Person?

An adult may appear mentally unwell or unstable if their thoughts or behaviour are not normal. This can happen if they are affected by alcohol or drugs, experiencing psychosis, or confused due to a medical condition called delirium.
 
Delirium is a sudden and usually temporary problem with thinking and awareness.
A person with delirium may be:
  • Confused (not sure where they are or what is happening)
  • In and out of awareness
  • Struggling to think clearly
Intoxication happens when a person’s mental state changes after taking alcohol or drugs. Effects depend on the substance but may include changes in:
  • How a person sees or hears things
  • Their attention and thinking
  • Their judgement and emotions
  • Their behaviour and level of alertness
Psychosis is a serious mental health condition where a person loses touch with reality. The person may:
  • Hear or see things that are not real
  • Strongly believe things that are not true
  • Have disorganised or unclear thinking
  • Show unusual or inappropriate behaviour
  • Have trouble knowing what is real and what is not