confusion /kənfyo̅o̅″shən/ [L, confundere, to mingle] , a mental state characterized by disorientation regarding time, place, person, or situation. It causes bewilderment, perplexity, lack of orderly thought, and inability to choose or act decisively and perform the activities of daily living. It can be brief and temporary. It is usually, but not always, symptomatic of an organic mental disorder, but it may also accompany severe emotional stress, various psychological disorders, or appear as a side effect of some medications. −confusional, adj.
