Delirium and brief psychotic disorder are two mental health conditions that share some similarities and differences. Both are characterized by changes in cognition, behavior, emotion and perception; however delirium is a temporary condition associated with an underlying physical or physiological cause whereas brief psychotic disorder is a longer-term psychological illness (Liu et al., 2018).

Delirium typically begins suddenly over the course of days or weeks with symptoms ranging from confusion to hallucinations. It can manifest due to anything from medication side effects or withdrawal to infections or chemical imbalances within the body (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). On the other hand, brief psychotic disorder usually has an onset over a longer period of time – several weeks or months – which may indicate its connection with stressors in one’s environment influencing its development (Liu et al., 2018).

Treatment for both also differs as delirium is mainly managed through medical intervention such as addressing underlying causes while brief psychotic disorder requires long-term psychotherapy alongside pharmacological treatment plans. In conclusion then we can see that though both may present similar symptoms they are actually quite distinct disorders requiring different approaches for successful management.